THE WATER-BIRDS. 247 



THE FRIGATE BIRD AND THE GULLS. 



The Frigate Bird, or Man-of-war Bird, is a maritime species, 

 having its four toes webbed together ; it resembles in this par- 

 ticular the gannets, darters, cormorants, and pelicans ; indeed, 

 it has a double relationship to the pelicans, by reason of its 

 gular sac or pouch. Having a comparatively small body, with 

 extremely long pointed wings and a long forked tail, its powers 

 of flight are astonishing. Frigates fish for themselves when 

 necessity demands it, but they much prefer robbing gulls and 

 terns of their well-earned sustenance by forcing them to dis- 

 gorge. They are found on the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 



The gulls are long-winged, web-footed birds, well equipped 

 for both aerial and aquatic navigation. Most of them are 

 winter visitors along the coast, though many frequent the great 

 lakes and other inland waters. Fishermen watch their move- 

 ments and are often led to good luck by them. The Manx 

 government protects them because of their usefulness as an 

 index of mackerel schools. Gulls have moderately long bills, 

 somewhat hooked at the tip, suitable for taking animal food. 

 Their diet, however, varies considerably in different species, 

 and, even in the same species, more or less according to the 

 situation and relative abundance of eatables. 



The Great Black-backed Gull, one of the largest of its kind, 

 belongs to the class which chooses to live on meat and fish. 

 Audubon states that it devours all sorts of food except vege- 

 tables, even the most putrid carrion, but prefers fresh fish, 

 young birds, small quadrupeds, or eggs. A specimen ex- 

 amined by Professor Aughey had eaten a few grasshoppers 

 and other insects, but mostly fish and frogs. The Herring 

 Gull, a much commoner species, that is found both coastwise 

 and interiorly, has similar good habits. A stomach examined 

 by Dr. Coues contained the remains of a marsh-hare. Two 

 which were examined by Professor Aughey had grasshoppers, 

 fish, and mollusks. One shot by us had eaten only refuse of 



