306 TACHYPETIDH, FRIGATES. PHAETHONTIDH, TROPIC BIRDS.—GEN. 277. 
(Kennicott) ; Fort Thorn, New Mexico (Henry). Nutv., ii, 507; Aup., vi, 
443, pl. 420; Lawre. in Bp., 883; P. melanogaster Wits., ix, 79, 82, pl. 
TA, £01525 oc ce GR ee eo Se EAN ETTON CHA 
Family TACHYPETIDA. Frigates. 
Bill longer than the head, stout, straight, wider than high at the base, thence 
gradually compressed to the strongly hooked extremity. Nostrils very small, linear, 
almost entirely closed, in a long narrow groove. Gular sac small, but capable of 
considerable distension. Wings exceedingly long and pointed, of about 34 remiges, 
of which the 10 primaries are very powerful, with stout quadrangular shafts ; upper 
and middle portion of the wings greatly lengthened. Tail very long, deeply forked, 
of 12 strong feathers. Feet exceedingly small, the tarsus, in particular, extraor- 
dinarily short (§ 75, p. 45), feathered; middle claw pectinate. Bulk of body 
slight compared with the great length of the wings and tail. Here only in this 
order is found the os wncinatum, a peculiar skull-bone occurring in nearly all the 
petrels, the turacous (Musophagide, p. 178) and many cuckoos. 
The frigates are maritime and pelagic birds of most warm parts of the globe. 
Their general contour is unique among water-birds, in the immense length and 
sweep of the wings, length of the forked tail and extreme smallness of the feet. 
In command of wing they are unsurpassed, and but few birds approach them in this 
respect. They are more nearly independent of land than any other birds excepting 
albatrosses and petrels, being often seen hundreds of miles at sea, and delight to 
soar at an astonishing elevation. They cannot dive, and scarcely swim or walk; 
food is procured by dashing down on wing with unerring aim, and by harassing 
gulls, terns and other less active or weaker birds until they are forced to disgorge or 
drop their prey. Their habit is gregarious, especially during the breeding season, 
when thousands congregate to nest in low thick bushes by the water’s edge. The 
nest is a shallow flat structure of sticks; the eggs, two or three in number, are 
greenish-white with a thick smooth shell. ‘‘The young are covered with yellowish- 
white down, and look at first as if they had no feet. They are fed by regurgitation, 
but grow tardily, and do not leave the nest until 
they are able to follow their parents on wing” 
(Audubon). The following is the principal if 
not the only species. 
277. Genus TACHYPETES Vieillot. 
Frigate. Man-of-war Bird. & brownish- 
black, glossed with green or purplish, duller 
on the belly, wings showing brown and 
j gray; 92 with white on neck and _ breast. 
Fig. 199. Frigate. Length about 34 feet ; extent about 8; wing 
2; tail 14; bill 5 or 6 inches; tarsi 1 inch or less. S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast. 
Nurt., ii, 491; Avup., vii, 10, pl. 421; Lawr. in Bp., 873. - aqguinus. 
Family PHAETHONTIDA. Tropic Birds. 
Bill about as long as the head, stout, straight, compressed, tapering, acute, 
paragnathous. Gular sac rudimentary, almost completely feathered. Nostrils 
