ENCLOSING THE VICTIMS. 
191 
water as in salt, in the seas, the rivers, the lakes. Fish-eating birds 
follow up these migrations, just as the swallow pursues the sun in its 
westward course. 
As soon as a stir of expectation is visible among the fish, and they 
form in columns in the great pools or broad rivers on the banks of 
which the pelican has made his home, he gives public notice thereof by 
the sound of his trumpet, and immediately the fishers assemble to 
determine the plan of their campaign. The place chosen is usually a 
narrow creek or inlet on the lake, or on the river some shallow or 
sand-bank at the foot of a fall or rapid. Of course, the selection is 
governed by the comparative abundance of the destined victims. 
As soon as the choice has been made, an aged pelican, and an 
expert in this kind of work, traces with his wing the line of circum- 
vallation or of investment of the fish. Thereafter a hundred or two 
hundred birds, all the disposable efiectives of the little army, take up 
their stations one after another in a long row, care being taken to leave 
an interval of about twelve feet, a little less or a little more, between 
each ; just sufficient, in fact, to allow for the full play of the wings in 
case of need. The beleaguerment completed, and the creek or pass 
hermetically blocked, the next step is to force the fish towards the 
shore. Immediately the signal is given by the veteran who has 
undertaken the task of distributing the soldiery. To his sonorous cry, 
which is echoed all along the line by the watchful sentinels, succeeds 
a sound of universal agitation and a continuous flutter. Each pelican 
rises erect on his feet, and displays the whole scope of his heavy wings, 
with which he furiously lashes the water, while executing, without 
moving from his place, a series of rapid gyrations that create a kind 
of miniature tempest. 
Aflfrighted by the clang and clamour, and the sudden upheaval of 
their universe, the fish take to flight in every direction. Those shut 
up between the birds and the shore seek safety by darting shore- 
wards ; which is exactly the result aimed at by their persecutors. 
Continually agitating the surface, and working beneath it, the cordon 
of sentinels gains and gains, gradually contracting the space between 
bird and bird until they elbow one another ; soon it becomes a living, 
