554 
PELICAN. 
other beasts of prey come there to quench their 
thirst, but never disturb the brood, on account 
of this salutary provision. The Egyptians have 
named this bird the camel of the river, and the 
Persians the water-carrier. In their gular pouch 
they convey to the nest the fish which they catch, 
where they disgorge it to feed their young. This 
action, ill observed, in all probability gave rise to 
the popular fable that the pelican nourished its 
offspring at the expense of its own blood. They 
lay on the bare ground, and cover their eggs in this 
situation. Sonnerat found five under a female, 
which did not give herself the trouble to rise and 
let him pass ; she only made some pecks with her 
bill, and screamed when he attempted to drive her 
from her eggs. 
These birds have been famed for their attach- 
ment to their young, though we do not find that 
authors give them credit for a larger share of af- 
fection than actuates the breast of other animals. 
They are not, however, at all deficient in their care, 
as Labat had the pleasure to prove, by fastening 
two young ones to a stake, and watching the mo- 
tions of the mother, who daily brought them food, 
and remained with them constantly till the close of 
evening, when she retired to roost in a tree over 
their heads. They all three grew so familiar that 
they suffered Labat to touch them, and the young 
ones took very graciously the little fish which he 
offered them, and which they put first into their 
