422 ANSERES. — PELECANIDiE. 



FRIGATE-BIRD.* 



' Man-of-war bird' 



Fregata aquilus. 



Pelecanus aquihis, Linn. — Aud. pi. 271. 



Pelecanus leucocephalus, (young), Gmel. 



Fregata aquilus, Cuv. 



Tacliypetes aquilus^ Vieill. 



But that the history of the Pelican and the 

 Booby made allusion to the roosting place near 

 Bluefields necessary, I should have preferred to 



The cells were strongly united to the skm ; and the roots of the feathers 

 protruded into the internal cavities, as if they grew out of nothing. 

 The cells must have performed their office with marvellous readiness, 

 for the nerves were easily traceable among them. The air-vessels were 

 like so many colourless bubbles. 



" The bird had died during the night by the side of the coop on 

 which they both usually roosted, but without attempting to perch. As 

 I removed the dead bird before the other Booby had quitted its morn- 

 ing roost, it was interesting to see it, under a sense of loneliness, nm- 

 ning its head into every opened door, to seek its lost companion." 



* Length 38 inches, expanse 85, flexure 2fi, tail 17|, rictus 5-|, tar- 

 sus 1, middle toe 3. Male. Irides black ; feet black ; beak bluish- 

 grey, blackish at tip : throat-pouch colour of red-lead, slightly pendent 

 at bottom like a dewlap. Whole plumage black, sometimes brilliantly 

 glossed, the head and wings with green, the neck and fore-back with 

 purple. 



Female. Feet delicate pink (perhaps not constant) ; orbits and 

 pouch pale blue ; plumage unglossed, back and wing-coverts smoke- 

 brown ; breast pure white, which forms a narrow collar. Under parts 

 smoke-brown. 



Young. Feet bluish-white. Head, upper-neck, throat, breast and 

 belly pure white. The rest of the plumage black, with some iridescence. 



