366 
SWIMMERS. 
6ist parallel of northern latitude. Indeed, in these remote 
and desolate regions they are numerous, but seem to have no 
predilection for the sea-coast, seldom coming within two hun- 
dred miles of Hudson Bay. 1 hey there, according to Rich- 
ardson, deposit their eggs usually on small rocky islands, on 
the banks of cascades where they can scarcely be approached, 
but still are by no means shy. They live together generally 
in flocks of from six to fourteen, and fly low and heavily, 
sometimes abreast, at others in an oblique line ; and they are 
often seen to pass close over a building, or within a few yards 
of a party of men, without exhibiting any signs of fear. For 
the purpose of surprising their prey they haunt eddies near 
water-falls, and devour great quantities of carp and other fish. 
They can only swallow, apparently, when opening the mouth 
sideways and somewhat upwards, like the shark. VI’hen gorged 
with food, they doze on the water or on some sand-shoal pro- 
jecting into or surrounded by it, where they remain a great 
part of their time in gluttonous inactivity, digesting their over- 
gorged meal. At such times they may be easily captured, as 
they have then great difficulty in starting to flight, particularly 
when the pouch is loaded with fish. Though they can prob- 
ably perch on trees, which I have never seen them attempt, 
they are generally on the wing, on the ground, or in their 
favorite element. 
In the old continent the Pelican is said to nest on the 
ground in an excavation near to the water, laying two or three, 
and rarely four eggs, which are pure white, and of nearly equal 
thickness at both ends. The report that it nests in deserts re- 
mote from water, and the story of the parents bringing water for 
their young in the pouch in such quantities as to afford drink 
for camels and wild beasts, appears only one of those extrava- 
gant fictions or tales of travellers • invented to gratify the love 
of the marvellous. Yet so general is the belief in the truth o 
this improbable relation that the Egyptians styled it the camel 
of the river, and the Persians, Tacab, or the water-carrier. 
I he pouch of the Pelican is, however, very capacious, and be- 
sides drowning all attempts at distinct voice, it gives a most 
