iSemis PEI SCANl'S. .
G é n . C h a » . ü e n i lo n g s r th an the lie« l, long, straight, hroatl, ihneli depressed: the upper
mandible channelled, ti-r Up b e n t <lowu and u ngniculated : the lower bifurcate, furnished
w ith a J a c c id dilatable sia*. Ante and throat naked. Mistin'.; l,«sal, placed in « hirigtta.
dinal c le ft i x g s strong, sho rt ; the tibias naked at the base:' tin: ¡¡«¡¡¡lltr claw with its
.... . in n e r edge entire,
P E jL ICAN.
Felecanus Ojtiocr\.v,iiu,s, f./n
Le P/tlican blanc.
T h o s e of our renders who are desirous of seeing this noble bird in state o f nature need .„-I, -, .
the southern and eastern portion:, of Europe to.' gratify the*- laudable curiosity. ’ Although the tropiciiileb.
mates o f Africa and India constitute & natural habitat, ncvertlieless the caster»» rhers «g Europe, staii t* dur
Danube and \ olga, the extensive lakes df Hungary and Russia, and the shores of the Mediterranean, »laces
in which if dw#» in abundance. It is. a species strictly to the Old World, over a great pon tLa of
which it is jdctMi;idly distributed. .Vf Temmiwck, «!»•• qwntes the Pekcanas Pfàüppensis as synonymous
with this hint, states that indivtdaaU seirt. him from Egypt and South Africa é» not differ from those taken
in Euro|)c.
Tlie Pelecmm Omcwtum k a very large species, aoa»uriug nearly five feet in length, and limns id-, ., rip
o f the wings, when spread, about twelve Or thirteen feet, and is remarkable both tor longevity and for the long
period requisitefpr the completion of its plumage. The first year s dress is wholly brown < the feathers of the
back and breast being broad and rounded. 'Flu.' assumption of ike lanceoîate froth« . ih «»j tint • .
pervade (he plumage of the adults are only acquired as the bird advances in age ; and, judgiag from individuals
which we have opporfcunxties of noticing in a state of partial confinement* it would apjiear that a lapse of five
or six years is required before it may be considered fully mature.
The. food of the Pelican is fish o f all kinds, in the capture of which it displays considerable activity and cunning;
and, although its robust body and immense bill would seem to contradict the assertion, its motions ai e
so qnick that even young fry and eels can scarcely escape its vigilance. The same power that renders it so
light and buoyant on the water denies it the means o f diving, consequently it is only the small and {shallow
aftlets of riVfeffi. #■ to when in search of its food,. Occasionefiy; however i! ■ to a. ■
¡height in the air, from whence, on perceiving a fish, it descends with astWMsbic#
the rapidity of its descent forcing it beneath the surface., or which i«* &$&&&< ktmhzs. k
i he female consmjciii « }i*»t '¡n*> the ground, of eoarae ireedv gra».s, V •; • .a a lb-a
diamerer, and .lined m th soft gm#w« two or more eggs, which are white, «¡,-f fdre tl«*-.- of the
During the period of incubation it is extremely assiduous in procuring food for its young, carrying it t
in the capacious pouch orgutJfos which forms so conspiettauv a foature in this bird, and which is “ one
most remarkable appendages that is found in the strove):«*? of anv animal. Though it contract near
the hollow of the jaws, and the side» ia which it is' adtadicd are not (in a quiescent state)' :.lw c an ind
der, it may be extended to an amazing capacity; and when tb
incredible: it will contain a man’s head with the greatest ease,
not immediately swallow his prey; hut, when this is full, he re
of his industry.” (Shaw’s Qeneral Zoology, vol. xiii. Part L p; I ’l l . )
1 he Pelican hears coniinemcnL remarkably well, particularly if spue«- suffi.
b voraciously
bird has fished with success, .¡gs size is almost
in fishing, the PcFican fills this bag, and does
tens to die shore to devour at leisure the fruits
t allowed for it »plume
, aotl wash icself. Fish either dead of tiixVc g tul fish in plenty obtai
«Distent and satisfied.
'Although it possesses the power of pertJwng on trees, yet it giws the preference to
:o form the best and most ruiiuM ¡situation when in a state of repose. On level
i and inelegant, and ivlfell tm *w g its flight i$ hcaw■ ¡ind apparently effected with gre.if
Along the top of. the upper mun»]*!)''?. -«u* ,a line- of crimson, the remainder being mb'bsU' ii
yellowish at the tip ; the under inai'-.dlWc ;*xe red; the 'pouch reddish yellow •.
■1%. eyes are flesh colour; the occiput ife slightly crested ; the whole of the plumage b white, I
less with sajpion colour, with the excerpt ton the crest an3 a fow-pendulous featheR-attached to
df the neck^'which are pah: yellow, d fM; primaries and spurious wings, which nre black leg
. daws' grey; irides hazel The s«iSniort-c<iiolipfed tint which pervades the whole of the plumage
heightened during the breeding-sca« jri.
We have figured aw adfiltv imdft nboiil; third of the imi ni'a.I abc.