CLASS II. AA'ES: 
ORDER 8. 
NATATORES. 
335 
for the ebb-tide, thousands of pelicans and flamingoes, the deep rosc-color of the one strongly con- 
trasting with the white of the other. 
The subject of Montgomery's beautiful poem, "The Pelican Island," was suggested by a short 
passage in Captain Flinder's 
voyage to Terra Australis, in 
which he describes one of those 
numerous gulfs which indent 
^^^^ coast of New Holland, and 
^ arc thickly spotted with small 
islands. "Upon two of these," 
he says, " we found many young 
pelicans unable to fly. Flocks 
of the old birds were sitting up- 
on the beaches of the lagoon, 
and it appeared that the islands 
were their breeding-places ; not 
only so, but from the number 
of skeletons and bones there 
scattered, it should seem that, 
for ages, these had been select- 
ed as the closing scene of their 
existence. Certainly none more 
likely to be free from disturbance of every kind could have been chosen, than these islets of a 
hidden lagoon of an uninhabited island, situate upon an unknown coast, near the antipodes of 
Europe ; nor can any thing be more consonant to their feelings, if pelicans have any, than quietly to 
resign their breath, surrounded by their progeny, and in the same spot where they first drew it." 
The following is one of the poet's pictures of the training of the young : 
THE PELICAN FEEDING HER TOUNG, 
' On beetling rocks the little ones were marshall'd ; 
There by endearments, stripes, example, urged 
To try the void convexity of heaven, 
And plough the ocean's horizontal field. 
TimoroLis, at first they flattered round the verge, 
Balanced and fai'led their hesitating wings, 
Then put them forth again with steadier aim ; 
Now, gaining courage as they felt the wind 
Dilate their feathers, fill their airy frames 
With buoyancy that bore them from their feet, 
They jdelded all their burthen to the breeze. 
And sailed and soared where'er their guardians led. 
Ascending, hovering, wheeling, or alighting, 
They searched the deep in quest of nobler game 
Than yet their inexperience had encountered : 
With these they battled in that element, 
Where wings or fins were equally at home, 
Till conquerors in many a desperate strife, 
They dragged their spoils to land, and gorged at leisure." 
Another picture, from the same graphic pen, may well be added : 
" Day by day. 
New lessons, exorcises, and amusements 
Employed the old to teach, the young to learn. 
Now floating on the blue lagoon behold them. 
The sire and dam in swan-like beauty steering. 
Their cygnets following through the foaming wake, 
Picking the leaves of plants, pursuing insects. 
Or catching at the bubbles as they brake; 
Till on some minor fry, in reedy shallows. 
With flapping pinions and unsparing beaks, 
The well-taught scholars plied their double art, 
To fish in troubled waters, and secure 
The petty captives in their maiden pouches ; 
Then hurry with their banquet to the shore. 
With feet, wings, breast, half-swimming and half-flying; 
And when their pens grew strong to fight the storm, 
And buffet with the breakers on the reef, 
The parents put them to severer proofs." 
The CoMMOK White Pelican, P. onocrotalus, is from five to six feet long, with twelve to thir- 
teen expanse of wing, this being the largest of web-footed birds. The color is white, tinged with 
rose or salmon color. The nest is formed of coarse reedy grass ; the eggs are white, and two to five 
in number. This bird is very widely distributed ; it is found in the Oriental countries of Europe ; 
is common on the rivers and lakes of Hungary and Russia ; tolerably abundant on the Danube; 
rare and accidental on the sea-coast. Belon, who refers to Leviticus (xi. 18), where the bird is 
noted as unclean, says that it is frequent on the lakes of Egypt and Judaea. When he was pass- 
ing the plain of Roma, which is only half a day's journey from Jerusalem, he saw them flying in 
