MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. 97 



FAMILY FREGATID.E. MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. 



Man-o'-war Birds, or Frigate Birds, are found throughout inter- 

 tropical seas. One of the two known species occurs in America. They 

 are strictly maritime, and, while sometimes observed at great distances 

 from the land, are met with in numbers only near the coasts. They 

 have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their 

 body than any other bird, and in power of flight are unsurpassed. 

 They rarely alight upon the water, but, facing the wind, pass hours 

 resting motionless on outstretched wings, sometimes ascending to 

 great heights and calmly soaring far above storms. It is when feed- 

 ing that their marvelous aerial powers are displayed to the best advan- 

 tage. By swift, indescribably graceful darts they secure fish which 

 are near the surface or capture those which have leaped from the water 

 to escape some enemy below. They also pursue Gulls and Terns, and, 

 forcing them to disgorge their prey, catch it in midair. As a rule they 

 are gregarious at all seasons, and nest and roost on bushes near the 

 shore. 



128. Fregata aquila (Linn.). MAN-O'-WAR BIRD; FRIGATE BIRD. 



(See Fig. 15.) Ad. $ . Entire plumage black, more glossy above. 9 .Simi- 

 lar, but browner ; lesser wing-coverts grayish brown ; breast and upper belly 

 white. Im. Similar to the 9 , but whole head and neck white. L., 40-00 ; 

 W., 25-00; T., 17'00; B., 4-50. 



Range. Tropical and subtropical coasts generally ; in America north to 

 Florida, Texas, and California, and casually to Kansas, Ohio, and Nova Scotia. 



Long Island, A. V., one record. 



Nest, of sticks, in colonies, on bushes or rocks. Egg, one, chalky white, 

 2-65 x 1-75. 



This species is not uncommon on the coasts of southern Florida, 

 but does not, so far as I know, nest there. It resembles other mem- 

 bers of the family in habits. 



ORDER ANSERES. LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS. 



FAMILY ANATIDJE. DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 



The two hundred species included in this family are placed in the 

 five subfamilies, Mergince or Mergansers, Anatince or River Ducks, 

 FuligulincB or Sea Ducks, Anserinm or Geese, and Cygnincv or Swans. 

 The characters given in the Key to Families should enable one to 

 easily refer a specimen to its proper group. These subfamilies are so 

 well defined that it seems advisable to treat of each one separately. 



