44 A BOOK OF BIRDS 



THE PELICANS, TROPIC BIRDS, AND FRIGATE BIRDS 



The Pelicans, Tropic and Frigate birds are each in their way very- 

 remarkable types, and all are nearly related one to another and the 

 Cormorants and Gannets. 



The White Pelican (Plate III. fig. 7) is a native of Southern 

 Europe and Africa, ranging eastwards into Northern India. Altogether 

 nine species are known, of which three are American — the Brown, 

 Saw-billed, and Rough-billed Pelicans. The last named, a North 

 American species, is the most remarkable of all, and this because, 

 in the nesting-season, the upper surface of the beak bears a curious 

 horny plate, which late in the year drops off, to be renewed again 

 in the succeeding summer. 



The huge pouch of skin which hangs down from the lower jaw 

 of the Pelicans is too well known to need description. In this recep- 

 tacle fish are caught. In fishing, these birds will often combine, 

 forming a half-circle in the water, and driving the fish before them 

 until they get them ** rounded up," as it were, against the bank of 

 the river or lake which is the scene of their hunting, when the pouches 

 are speedily filled ! When not in use, the skin of this pouch is 

 drawn up so as to be hardly noticeable. 



Pelicans not only swim well, but they can also dive, while on 

 the wing they have few rivals. 



The Frigate, or Man-of-war Bird (Plate III. fig. 6), is met with 

 throughout the tropical regions of the world, and has even strayed 

 so far north as Nova Scotia. It is a remarkable bird in many ways. 

 Spending the greater part of its life on the wing, it has but little use 

 for legs, and as a consequence it has acquired the distinction of having 

 the smallest feet, for its size, of any living bird. Feeding upon squids, 

 small crabs, flying fish, and young turtles when they come in their 

 way, these Frigate Birds yet derive no small part of their food by 

 robbing others. Their victims are chiefly Terns and Gannets, which, 

 returning home with full crops, are chased and made to disgorge 

 their captures. Before the coveted morsel has reached the sea again, 

 it is caught up by these unscrupulous highwaymen and promptly 

 swallowed ! 



During the nesting-season the males develop beneath the beak 



