. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. 292 DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. that, in one day's fishing, it devours as much fish as would satisfy six men. The Egyptians have nicknamed it the " River Camel," because it can imbibe at once more than twenty pints of water. Certainly it only makes two meals a day ; but, oh ! what meals they are! Pelicans often travel in considerable flocks, visiting the mouths of rivers or favourite retreats on the sea-coast. When they have made
. Reptiles and birds. A popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting. Birds; Reptiles. 292 DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. that, in one day's fishing, it devours as much fish as would satisfy six men. The Egyptians have nicknamed it the " River Camel," because it can imbibe at once more than twenty pints of water. Certainly it only makes two meals a day ; but, oh ! what meals they are! Pelicans often travel in considerable flocks, visiting the mouths of rivers or favourite retreats on the sea-coast. When they have made choice of a suitable place, they arrange themselves in a wide circle, and begin to beat the water with extended wing,. Fig. 105.—Tile Crested Pelican (P. onocrotalui^ v&r, Ort'enta/is, Linn.). so as to drive the fish before them, gradually diminishing the circle as they approach the shore or some inlet on the coast. In this manner they get all the fish together into a small space, when the common feast begins. After gorging themselves they retire to the shore, where the processes of digestion follow. Some rest with the neck over the back; others busily dress and smooth their plumage, waiting patiently until returning appetite invites all to fresh exertions. When thus quiescent, occasionally one of these birds empties his well-lined pouch, and spreads in front of him all the fish that it contains, in order to feed upon them at Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894; Gillmore, Parker, ed. Springfield, Mass. , W. J. Holland
Size: 1896px × 1318px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
