140 . FREGATIDZ. 
Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 578°*; Stone, Pr. Acad. Philad. 1890, p. 203"; Richm, 
Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 582°; A. O. U. Check-i. N. Amer. Birds, 2nd ed. p. 46"; 
Ogilvie Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 4437; Anthony, Auk, xv. pp. 314”, 316”, 
317”; Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, no. 14, p. 33 ™. 
Omnino niger, pilei cristati et notei plumis lanceolatis, chalybeo-viridi vel purpurascenti-violaceo iridescentibus ; 
alis caudaque nigerrimis, vix chalybeo nitentibus, rectricum rachidibus subtus albis: subtus omnino 
niger, vix chalybeo adumbratus: rostro fusco; gula nuda scarlatina; pedibus nigris ; iride brunnea. 
Long. tota circa 48-0, alee 24-3, caude 17-6, culm. 4-4, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. maris adulti ex Belize. Mus. 
nostr.) 
2 ad. Supra mari similis, nigra chalybeo vel purpureo nitens, tectricibus alarum brunnescentioribus ; 
mento nudo, gutture reliquo nigro; prepectore tamen et pectore albis; abdomine, subcaudalibus sub- 
alaribusque nigris : rostro albicante ; pedibus coccineis. Long. tota circa 36-0, ale 24:2. (Descr. femine 
adulte ex Man-o’-War Cay. Mus. nostr.) 
Juv. femine adulte similis, sed pileo undique aut ferrugineo aut albo: subtus albus, pectoris lateribus, 
hypochondriis et subcaudalibus nigricantibus. (Descr. exempl. ex Belize. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. TropicaL AND SuprropicaL Coasts generally, in America as far north as 
Florida and Texas, and casually to Nova Scotia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, and 
Humboldt Bay, California !°.—REVILLAGIGEDO Is., San Benedicte 1.21, Socorro I. 22, 
Clarion I.2? (Anthony); Mexico, abundant on both coasts, Ventosa Bay in 
Tehuantepec 4, Santecomapan and Santa Maria del Mar, Tehuantepec, Tonala, 
Chiapas (Swmichrast*®), Isabella I., off Mazatlan (Bischoff, Grayson*), Tres 
Marias Is. (Nelson 24), San Juanito, Tamaulipas (Richardson ?°), La Mancha, 
Vera Cruz (Ferrari-Perez *), Yucatan (Cabot 4, Stone & Baker 1"), Cozumel I. 
(Gaumer '); Burris Hoypuras, Belize Coast, Man-o’- War Cay (0. S. 12); Guatz- 
MALA, both coasts (O. 8.°), Champerico (mus. nostr.**); Honpuras, Bay of 
Fonseca (Zaylor®™), Swan I. (Townsend '*); Nicaragua, Coast and Lake of 
Nicaragua, R. Escondido (Richmond'§), San Juan del Sur, Pacific Coast 
(Nutting °); Costa Rica, Gulf of Nicoya (Nutting*®); Panama (Kellett & Wood, 
Mus. Brit. 2°).—Coasts oF VENEZUELA, BrazIL, AND Perv °°. 
This species is common on both shores of Central America. Mr. Witmer Stone saw 
a flock of a hundred off the coast of Yucatan, and Salvin noticed a number of these birds 
about the Cays of British Honduras. In Nicaragua, Mr. Richmond found F. aquila 
plentiful on the coast, and not uncommon about the Lake of Nicaragua; he also 
observed others fifty miles up the Escondido River. On Isabella and the Revillagigedo 
Islands they breed abundantly. 
The Frigate- or Man-of-War Bird is remarkable for its powerful flight, frequently 
ascending to such heights as to be almost invisible. When flying, it opens and 
shuts its forked tail in exactly the same way as the little Scissor-tailed Tyrant-birds 
(Milvulus). It does not dive after its food like the Gannet, but seizes on and devours 
any fish on the surface of the water or those left stranded by the receding tide. 
Mr. Nutting mentions that one of those he shot disgorged no less than twenty-three 
small fishes from its pouch. On Socorro Island, Mr. Anthony states that the Frigate- 
birds live chiefly by robbing the Gannets, and forcing them to disgorge their prey. 
