4 Mr. Bukton on the Natural History and Anatomy 



them on the water, these birds merely skimmed along the sur- 

 face till they could reach it with the beak, without closing their 

 wings or immersing any part of the body, or sitting on the wave, 

 as all the Pelicans and Procellarice do when feeding. Secondly, 

 the structure of the feet before mentioned prevents them from 

 making any progress in the water, when alighted on it. And, 

 lastly, the gland placed above the tail of all swimming-birds, 

 which secretes the oil necessary for preventing the plumage from 

 becoming wet, in this species is of so trifling a size (being not 

 larger than a garden pea) as to be totally insufficient for that 

 office in so large a bird ; in proof of which may be alleged the 

 circumstance of the feathers of those which when shot fell into 

 the sea being entirely wet. 



However useless the posterior extremity may be on the water, 

 it is nearly equally so on land ; for the bird is unable to run or 

 raise itself into the air from the level ground ; and preparatory 

 to its flight is obliged to scramble with its legs and expanded 

 wings to the edge of some rock or uneven surface, where the 

 wing can be put into action so as to hold the air. 



As, then, the Frigate-bird is unable to swim on the surface of 

 the water, or to dive into it, and as its food is furnished from 

 that element, we must conclude that it is dependent on its power 

 of darting through the air on its prey, for its preservation and 

 existence. Nature has provided it with a tail, of a particular 

 structure, adapted to this action, and to this organ it is indebted 

 for the precision and velocity with which it is performed. The 

 tail consists of twelve proper tail-feathers, varying in length from 

 seven and a half to sixteen inches, the smallest being placed in 

 the centre, and the longest externally. When closed, it consists 

 of a solid mass of plumage, and when spread, forms a large sur- 

 face, and is forked like that of a swallow. It is capable of all 



the 



