THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 37 



very awkward, not being at home on a slope or on 

 ice. They have never bred. 

 Distribution. — Almost everywhere in temperate or 

 tropical regions, where there are large expanses of 

 shallow water, especially if this is salt. There are, 

 however, no species in the Australian region, and 

 only nine altogether. The best-known are the 

 Common Flamingo {Phoenicopterus antiqiionim) of 

 the Old Worldj and the rather smaller Red 

 Flamingo (P. niher) of America ; this is of a pale 

 vermilion, and is the only one so coloured. 



Frigate-Birds {FregatidcB). 



Diagnosis. — Large sea-birds with long hooked beak, 

 enormous wings, and small feet only partially webbed. 



Size. — About a yard long. 



Form. — Bill much like that of a cormorant, long, 

 hooked at tip, nostrils in a groove, corner of mouth 

 reaching below eye ; feet with very short feathered 

 shanks, all toes webbed at the base, the first turned 

 backwards ; wings enormous, both long and broad, 

 the pinion-joints in repose projecting beyond 

 breast ; tail long and forked. Body very small. 



Plumage and Colouration. — Dark, black in adult 

 males, in females with white breasts, in the young 

 with head also white. The feathering is like that of 

 birds of prey, not water-fowl. Throat bare, with 

 a dilatable red pouch in males. 



Young.— Helpless and fed by parents ; clothed in white 

 down. 



Nest.— An open platform of twigs, placed on trees, 

 bushes, or rocks. 



Eggs. — One ; white in colour. 



Courtship.— The male expands his scarlet pouch and 

 droops and spreads his wings. 



