7” 
42 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
The {kin of the Pelican’s pouch is ufed to 
carry tobacco in, and fometimes caps are made 
of it: the Siamefe twift it into ftrings for 
mufical inftruments; and the fifhermen on the 
Nile ufe the lower mandible, and the pouch, to. 
lade the water out of their boats. ‘There is a 
wonderful contrivance in the Pelican; the air, 
which it takes in, paffes under the fkin. This 
makes the bird much lighter ; and if the body be’ 
prefled, one may feel the air efcape from it be- 
tween the fingers. 
- Pelicans will bring fifh to any of their fel 
or wounded companions. In fome places, the 
natives confine one near the fhore, and take part 
of the fifh which the other Pelicans bring him.. 
One ufe of the Pelican’s bag is, to bring water 
as well as fifh for its young ones. When it 
builds upon a rock, it is faid, that it empties the | 
water from its pouch into a hole near its neft,, 
and that the Camels and wild beafts fometimes 
come and drink the water, but that they never 
hurt the young. 
The Man of War Bird is another kind of Peli- 
can. It flies further and ftronger than any water 
bird: it feems to poize itfelf upon its wings, 
which are of a prodigious length, without appear- 
ing to move. It. fails {moothly. along the air, 
vile 
