226 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

situate upon an unknown coast near the antipodes of
Europe; nor can anything be more consonant to the feel-
ings, if pelicans have any, than quietly to resign their
breath, whilst surrounded by their progeny, and in the
same spot where they first drew it.” The beautiful poem
of ‘The Pelican Island,’ by Montgomery, was founded on
this passage.

In many places, pelicans are almost regarded as sacred
birds; for instance, a correspondent of the ‘ Atheneum,’
when travelling in Persia, speaks of “an immense flock of
pelicans, which got up out of the reeds, and flew across our
course, many passing quite close to the peak of our sail.
One of our Greek servants, Yanni, a Cypriote, drew his
pistol, to fire at them; but his arm was caught by an
Arnout, who told him the bird was sacred, pelicans having
brought water in their bill-pouches to Ali after a battle,
when he lay on the desert faint with extreme heat and
toil*.”

“The pelican tearing open her breast to feed her young
with her own blood, was an early symbol of our redemption
through Christ: one or both of these emblems” (the pelican
or the lamb) “are frequently found in ancient crosses and

* Maunder’s Treasary.