THE PELICAN. 21

fish. They can only swallow when opening
the mouth sideways like the shark. When
gorged with food, they doze on the water,
or on some sand-shoal projecting into it,
where they remain a great part of their
time, digesting their overgorged meal. At
such times they may be captured, as they
find it difficult to start when the pouch is
full of fish. The Pelican is very much
attached to its offspring, and labors hard
to give them a full supply of food. The
length of the Pelican is about six feet.
The general color of the plumage is white.