THE FRIGATE BIRD. 259 
five feet ; when they are flying, in the peculiar formation common 
to most aquatic birds, with the neck stretched out and the legs pro- 
jecting behind, they look, in the clear sky, like gigantic triangles of fire. 
The ancients greedily sought after the flesh of the Flamingo, which 
they regarded as the most choice food. The tongue especially was 
thought to be an exquisite dainty, and the Emperor Helhogabalus 
appreciated it so highly that a body of troops was exclusively em- 
ployed in slaughtering Phcenicopteri to satisfy his gastronomical tastes. 
At the present day we no longer eat the bird ; to modern palates its 
flesh is disagreeable in flavour, and it retains a marshy smell which 
is far from being pleasant. With regard to the tongue, the Egyptians, 
it is said, are content with extracting an oil from it, which is used 
to flavour some descriptions of viands. We must add, in order to 
complete our account of the Flamingo, that it is covered with down 
like a Swan, which is employed for the same purposes, and that its 
thigh-bone is used in some countries in the manufacture of flutes. 
The Flamingo (Phenicopierus ruber, Fig. 95) is the only representa- 
tive of this family we know. 
THE FRIGATE Birp (AZagen aquila). 
The Frigate Bird is principally characterised by a strong, robust, 
trenchant bill, longer than the head, with mandibles hooked at the 
point ; nostrils linear ; orbits naked ; throat dilatable ; the front of the 
neck bare of feathers ; wings very long and narrow, first two feathers 
longest ; tail lengthy and forked ; feet short ; toes united by a mem- 
brane deeply notched. 
The Frigate Bird has a most expansive spread of wing ; its power 
of flight is, therefore, very great. It inhabits the tropical seas of 
both the Old and New World ; and navigators assure us that they 
have met with it 200 or 300 leagues from any shore. When a hurri- 
cane arises they mount up far above the storm, and remain in those 
empyrean regions until it is again fine weather. In consequence of 
their almost disproportionate spread of wing, they can sustain them- 
selves in the air for lengthened periods, without taking or requiring rest. 
Their sight is so piercing that, at a distance far beyond that 
which would render them invisible to us, they can perceive their 
prey, the principal of which is the flying-fish. From their elevated 
situation, they dart down upon their favourite food, which has relin- 
quished its native element ; and, keeping their neck and feet in a 
horizontal position, cleave asunder the air and grasp their victim, 
who little expected to meet with an enemy in the element which it 
