PELICANS. 
PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THE OLD STORY OF THE PELICAN 
IN THE WILDERNESS FEEDING ITS YOUNG ON ITS 
OWN BLOOD. 
Having devoted much attention to investigations upon 
the subject of the supply of food provided by several 
species of birds for their young, I have collected many 
interesting facts showing that, in some instances, the 
parents prepare by partial digestion, and, in others, by the 
addition of a secreted nutritive substance, the food intended 
for the support of their offspring. The incident which 
I am about to relate I was certainly not prepared to 
expect, nevertheless, such facts as I now state have caused 
me little astonishment, as they appear to me to afford a 
solution to the well-known and ancient story of the Pelican 
in the Wilderness. I have heard that the so-called fable 
originated, or is to be found, on some of the early Egyptian 
monuments (I do not know where), but that the representa- 
tions are more like flamingoes than pelicans. A pair of 
flamingoes in the Gardens frequently showed signs of 
breeding, and were supplied with heaps of sand to form 
their nests, but without result ; nevertheless they appeared 
to take considerable notice of a pair of cariamas in the 
same aviary. These latter birds had a habit of bending 
back their heads, and, with open gaping mouths, uttered 
loud and somewhat distressing sounds. This habit at once 
attracted the flamingoes, and very frequently one of them 
advances towards the cariamas, and, standing erect over 
the bird, by a slight up-and-down movement of the head, 
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