Bird lore - Project Puffin

lO Bird - Lore
Soon their whole aspect of precision changed to individual alertness, and
with bill pointed downward and widespread wings, one shot like a torpedo
from the sky, and plunged head first beneath the surface of the water, closing
its wings and turning its body partly over as it disappeared beneath the waves.
When it reappeared with a squirming fish in its bill, the ever-watchful Sea Gull,
YOUNG CAXIFORNIA BROWN PFLTCAN SHOWING HOOKED BILL
who, flying close to the water, is ever in hot pursuit of the Pelican on its fish-
ing excursions, was a 'Johnny-on-the-spot' to assist in devouring the savory
meal. The Gull often snatches the fish from the Pelican's bill before the latter
can lift its head and start it 'down grade' into its fish-net pouch of elastic skin,
or confuses its slow thinking faculties, so that the fish falls back into the water,
an easy prey to the Gull's insatiable greed. After a hearty meal, the PeHcan
rests upon the rocking waves with its long bill held close to its neck and its
dreamy eyes looking into space— perfect contentment expressed in its digni-
fied lassitude.
I saw a Pelican in an endeavor to fly from the water onto a buoy, mis-
calculate the distance. Flapping its heavy wings, it slowly gained the air; but
was too near the buoy to raise itself sufficiently to alight, so slid awkwardly
back into the water, then swam some twenty feet away, made a second attempt
and settled upon the high-tilted end of the bobbing buoy and, with outspread
wings, balanced itself until equilibrium could be maintained, when it went
through a thorough preening of its feathers, like a Swan, running each long
quill through its bill, then flirting the moisture from its tip into the air.