Is in bigness nearly equal to a swan; the colour of the body is white, inclining to a pink hue; the beak is straight and long, with a sharp hook at the end; the gullet or skin of the lower mandible is so capable of distension, that it may be dilated to contain fish to a great weight, and, some say, fifteen quarts of water. This pouch Providence has allowed to the bird, that he may bring to his aerie sufficient food for several days; and save himself the trouble of travelling through the air, and watching and diving so often for his food. The legs are black, and the four toes palmated. It is a very indolent, inactive, and inelegant bird, who often sits whole days and nights on rocks or branches of trees, motionless and in a melancholy posture, till the resistless stimulus

of hunger spurs him away, and forces him to distant seas in search of his nourishment.

We have long indurged the idea, that the Pelican was a fit emblem for maternal kindness and affection toward the young: but it happens, that we are positively mistaken; for very few birds, if we except the ostrich, shows less affection for their helpless offspring. It is with great reluctance, that we deprive the bird of the honourable office of being a true symbol of charity; but as we intend to let no idea, ever so pleasing, intrude itself into the mind of our young readers, at the expense of truth, we must undeceive them whenever we find an opportunity. This bird is often represented scratching her breast, and feeding her young with the blood that gushes out of the wounds; and is used as a representation of the unspeakable goodness of HIM, who shed his blood to redeem mankind. But all this has no other ground than the bird having been sometimes, though seldom, seen picking off the down of her breast to soften the nest of her young. However as this pious Pelican is generally painted or drawn more like an eagle than the bird of that name, we should not be surprised, if the quality of the one had been transferred to the other, by some ancient and accidental mistake.

This bird is a native of Africa, and his flesh is coarse and ill-tasted; he is easily tamed, and is often seen among other birds in travelling menageries at country-fairs; and does not seem to suffer much from the difference between his native climate and ours. He seems of gentle and docile habits, when forced to comply with the unavoidable state of domesticity.

Is a large water bird of the order of anseres, and of the pelican genus; endued with a very voracious appetite; and consequently of a very rapacious disposition. He lives upon all sorts of fish; the fresh water, and the briny waves of the sea, both pay a large contribution to his craving stomach. The bill is about five inches in length, and of a dusky colour; the predominant tints of the body are black and dark green. They were formerly tamed in England for the purpose of catching fish, as the falcons and hawks for chasing the fleet inhabitants of the air. We are told, that the custom is still in full practice in China. This bird, although of the aquatic kind, is often seen, like the pelican, perched upon trees; and Milton tells us that Satan

on the tree of life,

The middle tree, and highest there that grew,
Sat like a Cormorant."

PARADISE LOST, IV, 194

THE BIRD OF PARADISE

HAS been called so, we may fairly suppose, on account of his being generally seen on the wing, and flying in the torrid zone at a small distance from the land. Its appearance being most welcome to the tired sailor and longing passenger, generally causes much happiness by its foretelling the vicinity of terra firma. The head is small, but adorned with colours which can vie with the brightest hues of the peacock's embellishments; the neck is of a fawn tint, and the body very small, but covered with long feathers of a browner hue, tinged with gold; the two middle feathers of the tail are little more than filaments, except at the point and near the root. This

bird's feathers have not only been the favourite ornament of the South American ladies, for a long time, but haye had also the honour of decorating the heads of our fair countrywomen.

THE CORNISH CHOUGH

Is like the jackdaw in shape and colour of body, but bigger in size. The bill and legs are in the former of a red colour, and are generally painted so in heraldry, where the bird has been for centuries a very common bearing. He is not only an inhabitant of Cornwall, but also of Wales, and of all the western coasts of England. He is generally to be found among rocks near the sea; and builds there, as well as in old ruinous castles and churches on the seaside. The voice of the Chough resembles that of the jackdaw, except that it exceeds it in hoarseness and strength.

The Scarecrow frequents the fens of Lincolnshire; and belongs to the tern kind. He is about the size of a blackbird. The wings are long with regard to the bigness of the body. The under part of the