49 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
The fkin of the Pelican’s pouch is ufed to: 
carry tobacco in, and fometimes caps -are made 
of it: the Siamefe twift it into firings 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: Pelicans the air,. 
which it takes in, pafles ‘under the fkin. ‘This 
_ makes the bird much lighter; and ifthe body be 
prefled, one may feel the air efeape. from it bee 
| tween the fingers. 
Pelicans will bring fifth: to any of their fick 
or wounded companions. In: fome places,. the 
natives confine one near the fore, and take part — 
of the fith 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, itis 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 watery. but = they n never 
hurt the young. 
The Man of War Bird is arhithe 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 fmoothly along the airy. 
waiting 
