NATURAL HISTORY. 383 



FREGATA. 



Aquila (Lat. an Earjlc\ the Frigate Pelican. 



the water, and from that elevation pounces down on fish, 

 especially the poor persecuted flying-fish. According to 

 some authors, the name of Man-of-War Bird was given to it 

 because its appearance was said to foretel the coming of a 

 ship ; probably because the Frigate Pelican and ships are 

 equally averse to storms, and both like to come into harbour if 

 the weather threatens. Under the throat of the Frigate Pelican 

 is a large pouch, of a deep red colour, which can be distended 

 with air at the pleasure of the bird. The pouch is larger and 

 of a more brilliant red in the male than in his consort, and the 

 general plumage of the female is not so bright as that of the 

 male. 



Although its swiftness of wing and general activity enable 

 it to snatch a fish from the surface of the water, or to pounce 

 upon the flying-fish before it can again seek the protection 

 of its native element, yet it too often uses its powers in 

 robbing other birds of their lawful prey. It is enabled in 

 some mysterious way to find its way home by night, even 

 though it may be four or five hundred miles from land. 

 The length of the male bird is three leet, and the expanse of 

 wing eight feet. 



