212 
THE PELICAN. 
followed the blow, the air for some feet above the 
water was spangled with bright specks of herrings, on 
which the united host of birds again pounced, forming 
one mingled mass of herrings, sea-fowl, and foam. 
In the West Indies, it appears that some of the 
species of Pelicans are able to immerse their bodies ; 
and, after diving and bringing up their pouches full 
of fish, will good-naturedly allow the parasite Gulls 
(so called from being in the habit of living on the 
labour of others,) to settle on their heads, and par- 
take of the spoil * ; a fact, in great degree corrobo- 
rating the Russian account of the Cormorants, just 
mentioned. If the Pelicans of the West Indies 
permit themselves to be made into resting-places 
for other birds, those of the Eastern world consider 
themselves equally privileged to make resting- 
places for themselves on the bodies of animals. On 
the banks of the river Tigris in Asia, the favourite 
resort of a species of Pelican {P die anus fuscus ), 
they may be seen in great numbers, spreading their 
silvery wings, quietly settled on the backs of the 
buffaloes, which are plunging into the water, and 
patiently accommodating themselves to this incum- 
brance*. We know that cows will allow of Mag- 
pies sitting on their backs, and pecking holes in 
their hides, — -for which they ought to be grateful, as 
the Magpie is doing the poor beast an essential ser- 
vice, by ridding it of the grub of the Gad-fly {oestrus 
bovis ), the sound of even one of which will send a 
herd off at full gallop, with their tails in the air ; 
* Transatlantic Sketches . 
f Mignan’s Travels. 
