188. _PENGUINS_ (Fig 50.) _are a tribe of marine birds with straight and narrow bills, furrowed at the sides; the legs situated so far back that they walk in an upright position; and the wings small, not calculated for flight, and covered with a broad and strong membrane._ _Most of the penguins are found in different islands of the South Seas._ Vast numbers of these birds inhabit the Falkland islands, and, to mariners, they have sometimes afforded a very seasonable supply of food. They are in general extremely fat, and must be skinned before they are eaten. Sometimes they have been salted and packed in casks to supply the place of beef. These birds are so fearless of the approach of mankind, that there is no difficulty in knocking them down and killing them with sticks. Penguins form their nests in holes in the ground, and generally lay one egg in each nest. The _eggs_ are an excellent food. 189. _PELECANS, or CORVORANTS, are a tribe of birds distinguished by their bills being hooked at the end, and furnished with a nail at the point and a pouch beneath, and having their face naked._ _There are more than thirty known species of pelecans, some of which are found in nearly every part of the world._ Of these the most remarkable species is the great, or WHITE PELECAN (_Pelecanus onocrolalus_). It is furnished with a bag attached to the lower mandible of its bill, so large as to be capable of containing a great number of fish. On these the pelecan feeds, and, by means of this bag, is enabled to convey them as food for its offspring. We are informed that the inhabitants of Mexico sometimes obtain a supply of fish by cruelly breaking the wing of a live pelecan, and then tying the bird to a tree. Its screams are said to attract other pelecans to the place, which give up a portion of the provisions they have collected to their imprisoned companion. As soon as this is observed the men, who are concealed at a little distance, rush to the spot, and take away all except a small portion, sufficient for the support of the prisoner. The Chinese train one of the species (_Pelecanus sinensis_) to catch fish, and the birds are so well trained that they do not appear to swallow any, but such as are given to them for encouragement and food.