probably well acquainted with the strength of their
powerful beaks. Lastly, came a mob of egrets, crab-eaters, and little
herons, which perched on the surrounding trees, stretched out their
necks, rolled their wild eyes, and danced about on the dead branches,
uttering their jealous cries, but not daring to interfere with the
industrious pelicans.

The fishing over, the pelicans arranged themselves in a circle on the
sand, when those who had been engaged in fishing proceeded to empty
deliberately their pouches, spreading the contents before their grave
old chief, each taking care to knock on the head any fish which was
still living. Then, at a signal from the chief, a bird advanced, and
taking a fish swallowed it; then came another croak, and another pelican
walked forward and took his share, and so on until every bird had been
fed.

The feast over, they began carefully to prune their damp plumage,
turning their necks over their backs in a way of which I should not have
supposed them capable. Having arranged their plumage, they moved off
towards their roosting-places, and the rest of the birds which had been
watching their departure darted down, hoping to pick up some of the fish
they might have left.

Lejoillie all the time, though scarcely able to contain himself for
laughter, was holding his gun, ready to obtain specimens for his
collection.

At length, fixing his eye on a blue crab-eater, he fired, and the bird
fell to the ground. At the sound of the shot the pelicans took to
flight in good order, followed by the cormorants and crows; the gulls
and terns flew off up the creek; but the herons, more courageous or more
stupid, remained perched on the higher branches of the neighbouring
trees.

Not to let them all escape, I aimed at a beautiful egret with white
plumage, and to my great delight down it fell. It was nearly three feet
in height, with a long tuft of silken and silvery feathers down the back
of its neck. Carlos knocked over a beautiful little bird with a
chestnut-coloured head, a perfect heron in miniature, but only the size
of a thrush. Lejoillie was delighted, and would have hugged us both as
we brought him the specimens.

As there was no chance of a breeze, we agreed to spend the night on
shore, where we could stretch our legs and enjoy a cooler air than we
could find in our close little cabin. We accordingly sent for a sail,
rigged a tent, lighted a fire, and did our best to make ourselves