THE PELICAN. 
213 
but as the Pelican s beak is by no means fitted for 
boring into the tough coat of a buffalo, we cannot 
account for the apparent satisfaction expressed by the 
animal on its making this settlement. 
Of the voracity and capacious stomach of the 
Pelican, as well as of his pouch, we have spoken 
before (vol. i., p. 52.) Of this the Chinese take ad- 
vantage, and train a species of Pelican or Cormorant, 
called by them, Loo-fou , as fishing birds. The 
fisherman fastens an iron ring round the bird’s neck, 
so that it cannot swallow. Thus prepared, he sits 
quietly in his boat, till he sees a fish, when the bird 
is immediately tossed into the water. Its quick eye 
instantly perceives the game, and as instantly does 
the bird dart after it. On rising, the boatman opens 
the pouch, and taking out the fish, waits for the ap- 
pearance of another. 
To the Pelican succeeds the Cormorant; so closely, 
indeed, are they allied, that many naturalists have 
classed them together, and given them the same 
scientific name ; for instance, our common Cormo- 
rant is called Pelicanus carbo . The Cormorant, 
however, may be distinguished by the claw of the 
middle toe being indented like a saw*, probably to 
help him in retaining the slippery bodies of small 
fish, as the toothed claw of the Herons serves for a 
similar purpose. Possibly it may further serve so 
awkwardly-shaped a bird, by enabling it to cling to 
branches ; for, although they usually frequent rocks 
and precipices, they can, and very often do, perch 
on trees. The poet, Milton, seems to have been 
aware of this, when he describes Satan taking the 
* See figure, inserted in vol. ii., p. 131. 
