be | 
ais 
te NATURAL HISTORY. 
\ 
PELICAN. ! ; 
DRAVELLERS, and thofe whe are fond of the 
marvellous, have related ftrange accounts ef this bird. 
The tale refpecting the care of its young, has been fo 
generally received, as ® be frequently adduced as 
an example for mate imitate. Re. yi 
‘This bird is fo unWieldy, as to be only adapted for 
the water; the beak, which is peculiarly uncommon, — 
is about a foot long, and as thick asthe flefhy part of 
achild’s arm, very fharp at the point and of a blue 
sind yellow colour ; in other refpects, it differs very 
little from the fwan: The lower chap is made of two 
long flat ribs, with a rough membrane connected to 
both, ia form of a bag, which extended to the throat, 
holds a conliderablé quantity of food, which fupplies 
_itin fimes of fearcity: Feeding htr young from this 
- Bag, has fo much the appearance of feeding them with 
their own blood, that it caufed this fabulous opinion 
to be propagated, and made the pelican an embleni 
of.paternal, as the ftork had before been chofen, more 
aly. of filial affection. ft i a 
The voice of this bird is harflrand diffonant : Some 
compare it tothe braying ofan afs, while others fay — 
it refembles the voice of a man, grievoufly complain- 
ing. David compares his groaning to {the pelican of 
the wildernefs and the owl of the defert. ; 
It lives fixty or feventy years. i 
) Cases ay 
FULMAR..- viene 
‘poe f 
a ee a 
Vas bird is found in the ifland of St. Kilda, ~ 
where it fupplies. the inhabitants with oil foratheir 7 
lamps, down for their beds, a balfam for their wounds, « 
inl 

