TACHYPETBS AQUILVS. 50 



The (X!sophii,;;us is straip:ht sind somewhat dilated. Proventriculus, rather large, with 

 th(! yhuid.s arranged in a zonuhir band. Stomach, quite small but not muscular. Cceca, 

 small. Slernum, deeply arched, with the central posterior margin, in<lented, hut h;iving 

 a wide, very shallow scallop on either side. Keel, high, well arclied, and occupies the en- 

 tire length of sternum. Furcula, long, lying almost horizontal to coracoids and joined 

 firmly to them. Head, crested. Legs and neck, short. Tail and wings, long. 



GENUS I. TACHYPETES. THE FORK-TAILED FRIU.VTE BIRDS. 



(JEX. Cu. Similar to tliosc i;ivun under Family lieailinii. Tail, itce|)ly JorkcJ. Soxus, nut similar. Tlioro is but one 

 species witliin our limits. 



TACHYPETES AQUILUS. 

 Man-of-war Bird. 

 TachypcUs aquilus Vieill., Gal. ties Ois. ; IK'J.5, ■2~\. 

 DESCRIl'TIUX. 

 Sr. Cii. Form, robust, ijize, lurijc. Culou. Adult male. Black throughout, with green and purple rclleetlons, 

 especially on body. Nakedspace about bead. and bill, black, iris, brown, gul.irsac and feet, orange. Adutlfemale. Sim- 

 ilar, but the sides of bead and broad patch on breast are white, and the plumage is not as lustrous. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 ICuowii by the deejily forked tail and dark colors. Constantly resident on the euast of Florida and on the Bahamas. 

 Accidental as I'ar north as Nova Scotia. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 .\veragc measurements of s])ecimens from Florida. Length, .TJ.^d; stretch, 85-00; wing, '.J'l'.'iO; tail, 17'.'")0; bill, b'25. 

 lai-sus, TS. L(jngesi sineimcn, -tl'OO; greatest e.Ktent of wing, bCVOO; longest wing, •J.'iOO; tail, IS-OO; bill. .''rSO; tarsus, 

 •HO. Shortest spceiiuen, :!S oil, smallest extent of wing, 84'Oit; shorte.st wing, 2f00; tail, 17 (HI; bill, .500; tarsus, ■".'J. 



DESCRIl'TION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Ne.ils, placed on the ground or in trees, composed of sticks. E't(/s, one or two in numl)er, rather elliptical in form, 

 •and greenish-white in color, covered with a white calcareous deposit. Dimensions from d'OOx-i 'iO to ^•ll x"2'h.'). 



HABITS. 



The noble birds which we now have in hand, are among the most noticeable that are 

 found in southern localities, for their majestic flight causes even the most casual "observer 

 to gaze upon them with admiration. The Man-of-war, or Frig.ate, Birds are sonuswliat 

 parasitical in habit and mtiy frequently be seen in pursuit of Terns and Gulls which have 

 recently captured a fish, when they display a variety of aerial evolutions that are ex- 

 tremely graceful. They easily outstrip the object of their pursuit, causing it to drop its 

 prey, when, diving downward, the Frigate seizes the fish before it reaches the wafer, and 

 devours it. These birds are highly gregarious, associating in flocks consisting of many 

 thousands, and will often gather in large numbers on the mangroves, for, in spile of Iht! 

 small size of their feet, they perch well. The Man-of-war Birds arc extremely shy, and 

 although I found many among the interior keys, was not able to procure s{>ecimcns until I 

 discovered the fact that they are quite stupid at night; indeed, they return to most long 

 before sundown anil can be approached quite readily at twilight, at which time if disturbed, 

 they fly low, appearing quite confused. They breed late, about the first of June, i)laciiig 

 the huge nests on nningroves, at no great distance from the water. Tlion.sands gather (o 

 breed in one rookery, of which I know of but two in Florida, one near Cedar Keys ami one 

 on one of the interii)r keys, (juite dillicult of access, in the vicinity of Cape Sable. 



The Man-ol-war Birds do not, as a rule, extend their range further imrth than Mid- 

 dle Florida but occasionally wander above this point. I once possessed a fine male which 

 was killed in October, 187C, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a letter, just received from Mr.. 



