The bird builds on rocky and desert shores: hence we read of "the Pelican of the wilderness," alluded to in these beautiful lines:—
"Like the Pelicans
On that lone island where they built their nests,
Nourish'd their young, and then lay down to die."
The bird lives on fish, which it darts upon from a considerable height. James Montgomery thus describes this mode of taking their prey:—
"Eager for food, their searching eyes they fix'd
On Ocean's unroll'd volume, from a height
That brought immensity within their scope;
Yet with such power of vision look'd they down,
As though they watch'd the shell-fish slowly gliding