The Pelican
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of a tall man. It may be called a water- bird, because it lives on the sea-coast, or on
the borders of lakes and rivers and lives upon fish only. It has a very long bill, and
under this is a curious bag or pouch to hold the fish which it takes. When there is but
it is so large that it will hold two or three gallons of water.
When the pelican goes to seek for its food, it flies up into the air for some distance,
then turns its head on one side, and with one eye looks sharply down into the water
until it sees a fish. Then it darts down very swiftly, and is almost sure to seize it.
Instead of eating the fish at once, it usually stores it away in its pouch, and watches
for another. When its bag is filled, it flies away to some lonely place to satisfy its
hunger, or to feed its young. In order to get out the fish, it presses its bill against its
breast; and this has led some people to believe that it pierces its breast, and feeds
its young ones with its own blood. Of course this is only a fable.
The pelican likes to live in lonely places, such as a rocky island in the midst of the
ocean, where nobody will come near to disturb it: it is for this reason that David says
in the 102d Psalm, "I am like a pelican in the wilderness," or solitary place. I suppose
he wrote this Psalm when he was very sorrowful; perhaps when Saul was pursuing
him, and trying to take his life.
the borders of lakes and rivers and lives upon fish only. It has a very long bill, and
under this is a curious bag or pouch to hold the fish which it takes. When there is but
it is so large that it will hold two or three gallons of water.
When the pelican goes to seek for its food, it flies up into the air for some distance,
then turns its head on one side, and with one eye looks sharply down into the water
until it sees a fish. Then it darts down very swiftly, and is almost sure to seize it.
Instead of eating the fish at once, it usually stores it away in its pouch, and watches
for another. When its bag is filled, it flies away to some lonely place to satisfy its
hunger, or to feed its young. In order to get out the fish, it presses its bill against its
breast; and this has led some people to believe that it pierces its breast, and feeds
its young ones with its own blood. Of course this is only a fable.
The pelican likes to live in lonely places, such as a rocky island in the midst of the
ocean, where nobody will come near to disturb it: it is for this reason that David says
in the 102d Psalm, "I am like a pelican in the wilderness," or solitary place. I suppose
he wrote this Psalm when he was very sorrowful; perhaps when Saul was pursuing
him, and trying to take his life.