THE PELICAN. 
129 
snemy he is; for ever as he approaches a fowl, he seizes it by 
the legs, and draws it in a jerk under water. There he 
fastens it under his girdle, and goes to the next, till he has 
thus loaded himself with as many as he can carry away. 
hen he has got this quantity, without ever attempting to 
disturb the rest of the fowls on the pool, he slowly moves 
°h again ; and, in this manner, pays the flock three or four 
v, sits in a day. Of all the various artifices for catching 
fowl, this seems likely to be attended with the greatest stic- 
ks, and is the most practised in China. 
The Pelican isproperly a foreign bird, but as the genus 
"'eludes some species which are found in our European cli- 
mates, we have introduced it between the domestic and fo- 
, ei gn animals of this order. The distinguishing characters of 
this genus is a naked gullet, and capable of great distention. 
The great white Pelican of Africa is much larger than a 
Sw an, and somewhat of the same shape and colour. Its four 
toes are all webbed together ; and its neck, in some measure, 
•’eseinbles that of a swan : but that singularity in which it 
d'ffers from all other birds, is in the bill, and the great pouch 
""derneath, which are wonderful, and demand a distinct 
description. This enormous bill is fifteen inches from the 
P°mt to the opening of the mouth, which is a good way 
"ack behind the eyes. The base of the bill is somewhat 
jP'eenish : but it varies towards the end, being of a reddish 
"b'e. To the lower edges of the under-chap, hangs a bag, 
Caching the whole length of the hill to the neck, which is 
ip'd to be capable of containing fifteen quarts of water. 
I " s bag the bird has a power of wrinkling up into the 
'ollow of the under-chap ; but, by opening the bill, and 
Putting one’s hand down into the bag, it may be distended 
dt pleasure. It is not covered with feathers, but a short 
f ovvny substance, as smooth and as soft as satin. Tertre 
a *firms, that this pouch will hold as many fish as will serve 
s ' xt y hungry men for a meal. Such is the formation of this 
extraordinary bird, which is a native of Africa and America. 
1 was once also known in Europe, particularly in Russia ; 
it seems to have deserted our coasts. 
Y* the island of Manilla the pelicans are of a rose colour, 
j "" >n America they are brown. They are all torpid and 
. Active to the last degree, so that nothing can exceed their 
J" olence but their gluttony. It is only from the stimula- 
v ? ns °1 hunger that they are excited to labour ; for other- 
'se they would continue always in fixed repose. When 
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