_ 44 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
of Man of War Birds: one attempted to take g 
fifh out of his hand; at the fame time, a great 
number. flew juft over the pot, in. which the meat 
was boiling, to take it.away, though many people 
ftood round it. 
’ Though the Man of War Bird’s body be but 
little larger than. that of a Hen, his wings are 
from eight to ten, or even fourteen feet acrofs,, 
Thefe prodigious wings enable him to take fuch 
vatt. flights ; for fometimes in the middle of the 
fea, the failor fees. no other object than. this bird, 
But their long wings make it. very difficult for 
c them to rife, when once they have fettled ; fo that. 
they will fometimes fuffer themfelves to ee ftruck 
down, before they. attempt to fly. Indeed : it is 
only from the point of a rock, or the top of a tree, 
that they can eafily rife.. “They.build their nefts 
“jnetrees, in lonely places, near the fea; and lay, 
one or two eggs. Their heads are fmall, and 
rather flatted.on the crown; their eyes are largey. 
black, and fhining,. and furrounded with a bluifh 
{kin, and their tails are forked. like.a Swallow’s. 
The fat of this bird is. thought to be very ufeful 
in curing the. rheumatifm. 
The Cormorant is another bird of the Pelican. 
kind, nearly as large asa Goofe. It fwims and 
dives 
