PELICAN, in chemistry, is a glass alembic con-
sisting of one piece. It has a tubulated capital, from
which two opposite and crooked beaks pass out, and
enter again at the belly of the cucurbit. This vessel
has been contrived for a continued distillation and co-
habation, which chemists call circulation. The volatile
parts of substances put into this vessel rise into the ca-
pital, and are obliged to return through the crooked
beaks into the cucurbit; and this without interruption,
or luting and unluting the vessels.
Although the pelican seems to be a very convenient
instrument, it is nevertheless little used, and even Pelicanus.
much neglected at present; either because the modern
chemists have not so much patience as the ancient che-
mists had for making long experiments; or because
they find that two matresses, the mouth of one of
which is inserted into the mouth of the other, produce
the same effect.