40 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



i 



Fregata aquila Linn. 



Man-o'-\Var Bird. Frigate Bird, 



Tachypetes aquila Belding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., V. 1883, 545 (Cape Region), 548 



(San Jose'). 

 Fregata aquila Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 260-265 (Cape 



Region ; descr. nest, eggs, habits, and color of fleshy parts at San Margarita 



Island). 



The Frigate Bird is common in winter at La Paz, and in 1882 it was found 

 by Mr. Belding at San Jose del Cabo as late as May 17. Mr. Frazar notes its 

 " arrival " in autumn on September 9, at the latter locality, and on the 15th 

 of March preceding records finding about fifty birds on a small island to the 

 north of La Paz," roosting on some cactuses," where they perhaps nested, also, 

 later in the season. Mr. Bryant saw Frigate Birds along the estero north of 

 Magdalena Bay, and " at the lagoon in lower Purisima canon," but most 

 numerously on Santa Margarita Island, where there was a large breeding col- 

 ony, of which he gives the following interesting description : — 



" Going over to Santa Margarita Island from Magdalena Island on January 14, 

 1888, 1 saw many of these birds on the wing, some of them idly floating at an im- 

 mense height, so high as to be almost invisible, higher than I have ever seen hawks 

 (Bitteo) sailing. Anchoring near shore, we waited until morning before landing. 

 From the boat, the mangroves spoken of under the subject of cormorants, could 

 be seen fairly covered with birds and a long whirling column of others on the wing 

 e.xtended far skyward. Birds were continually coming and going from this place, 

 but none passed within gun-shot of the boat, and during my excursions by boat, 

 more than five hundred miles in all, no man-o'-war bird came near enough for a 

 shot. . . . 



" The birds were more quiet after dark, but some sounds could be heard through- 

 out the entire night. At the first faint appearance of dawn, a continuous exodus 

 would commence from the rookery, some of the birds flying high over the island 

 more than four miles to the sea. The mangroves bordering upon the western side 

 only of the lagoon were used for nesting sites, a partial vacancy midway seemed 

 to separate two colonies. The mangroves being higher at the edge of the water, 

 the nests were placed at heights varying from five to twelve feet. Procuring a 

 small boat and the services of a Mexican, I skirted the edge of the lagoon for speci- 

 mens of eggs and photographs of the rookery, showing the birds in all attitudes. 

 They were usually quite tame but seemed more afraid of me when in the boat 

 than when climbing over and through the mangroves, probably because in the 

 first instance I was more exposed to view. Several birds were caught by hand and 

 some others struck down with an oar as they pitched from the nest to fly past. 

 Upon the water they beat their wings helplessly and were with great difliculty 

 able to rise. In a few cases a bird would miss getting on the wing by coming in 

 contact with another and fall helplessly amongst the branches from which they 

 were scarcely able to extricate themselves. They seemed bewildered by my pres- 



