FRIGATE-BIRD. 429 



points of honey-comb limestone, occasionally leaping 

 deep clefts, we came to the spot. Many birds of 

 both kinds were sitting on the low stunted trees, but 

 we could not find a single nest nor eggs ; though, 

 as my guide said, at some times they were numerous, 

 but only of the Pelican ; of the Frigate's nidification 

 he knew nothing. 



The gular pouch of the old male, is not connected 

 with the mouth, like that of the Pelican, but appears 

 to be an air-cell ; perhaps having some analogy to the 

 erectile caruncles of the male Turkey. If we take 

 the skeleton of the Pelican as a standard, the ster- 

 num of the Frigate is greatly developed laterally, 

 as that of the Booby is, longitudinally. The middle 

 claw is pectinated. I think I know of no bird so 

 infested with entozoic worms as the Frigate. Im- 

 mense bunches both of tasnoid and cylindrical worms 

 are found in almost every specimen, besides some 

 curious kinds apparently of a higher organization. 

 Bird-Hce and bird-flies also infest it. 



One which was wounded, on being taken up, was 

 fierce, endeavouring to seize with his beak. And a 

 specimen kept alive by Dr. Chamberlaine, became 

 animated and pugnacious when the children or ser- 

 vants approached it, and struck at them with its 

 formidable bill. 



