Sir Thomas Browne, in his "Vulgar Errors," says:--"In every place we meet with the picture of the Pelican opening her breast with her bill, and feeding her young ones with the blood distilling from her. Thus it is set forth, not only in common signs, but in the crest and scutcheon of many noble families; hath been asserted by many holy writers, and was an hieroglyphic of piety and pity among the Egyptians; on which consideration they spared them at their tables." Sir Thomas refers this popular error to an exaggerated description of the Pelican's fondness for her young, and is inclined to accept it as an emblem "in coat-armour," though with great doubt. In "A Choice of Emblems and other Devices," by Geoffrey Whitney, are these lines:-- "The Pelican, for to revive her younge, Doth pierce her breste, and geve them of her blood. Then searche your breste, and as you have with tonge, With penne procede to do your countrie good: Your zeal is great, your learning is profounde; Then help our wantes with that you do abound." In George Wither's "Emblems," 1634, we find:-- "Our Pelican, by bleeding thus, Fulfill'd the law, and cured us." Shakspeare, in "Hamlet," thus alludes to the popular notion:-- "To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms; And like the kind, life-rendering Pelican, Repast them with my blood." In a holier light, this symbol signifies the Saviour giving Himself up for the redemption of mankind. In Lord Lindsay's "Christian Art," vols. i., xx., xxi., we find in the text, "God the Son (is symbolized) by a Pelican--'I am like a Pelican of the wilderness.' (Psalm cii. 6.)" To which is added the following note:--"The mediæval interpretation of this symbol is given by Sir David Lindsay, of the Mount, Lion King, nephew of the poet, in his MS. 'Collectanea,' preserved in the Advocates' Library. Edinburgh." Sir Thomas Browne hints at the probability of the Pelican occasionally nibbling or biting itself on the itching part of its breast, upon fulness or acrimony of blood, so as to tinge the feathers in that part. Such an instance is recorded by Mr. G. Bennett of a Pelican living at Dulwich, which wounded itself just above the breast; but no such act has been observed among the Pelicans kept in the menagerie of the Zoological Society or elsewhere; and the instance just recorded was probably caused by local irritation.