246 



of Natural $t 



varied with six rounded white spots : the 

 scapulars are of a reddish chestnut, with 

 whitish spots at their tips : the back, the 

 rump, the upper wing-coverts, and those of 

 the tail at their base, are black, with innu- 

 merable white bands ; the tip of the tail- 

 feathers is black ; the belly is whitish, the 

 sides rather red, both varied with black 

 lines : the under tail-coverts are red ; the 

 beak is black, and the feet are bright red : 

 the tarsi are armed with a thick and blunt 

 spur. The female is rather smaller, and 

 diners in several respects from the male. 



FRATERCULA. A genus of web- footed 

 birds belonging to the family Alcadae, and 

 containing the common Puffin {F.arctica.) 

 [See PUFFIN : AUK.] 



FRIAR-BIRD. (Tropidorhynchus corni- 

 cuJatiis.'' This bird is generally dispersed 

 over New South Wales, where it is variously 

 called by the colonists Friar-bird, Monk, 

 and Poor Soldier. It selects the topmost 

 dead branches of the most lofty trees whereon 



(TROT 



FRIA.R-BIRD. 



1TU8.) 



to perch and pour forth its garrulous and 

 singular notes, and attracts attention more 

 by its loud and singular call than by its ap- 

 pearance. It is called, from some of these 

 notes, Poor Soldier, Fimlico, Four o'clock, 

 i &c. : its bare head and neck give it also the 

 i appellation of Friar-bird, Monk, and Lea- 

 ther-head. Its flight is undulating and 

 powerful, and it may be seen passing from 

 one part of the forest to another : when 

 among the branches it can cling in every 

 direction ; sometimes It hangs by one foot, 

 with its head downwards : if seized when 

 wounded it can inflict with its sharp claws 

 severe wounds on the head of the captor. It 

 feeds on the pollen of Eucalypti, on insects, 

 wild figs, and berries. It begins to breed in 

 November, becoming then animated and 

 fierce, readily attacking hawks, crows, and 

 other birds that may venture near its nest. 

 The nest is cup-shaped, and rather rudely 

 constructed, being composed of the inner 

 ! rind of the stringy bark and wool, to which 

 succeeds a layer of fine twigs, lined with 

 grasses and fibrous roots ; the whole openly 

 suspended to the horizontal branch of an 

 apple (Angopftora) or gum-tree, frequently 

 within a few feet of the ground. The eggs 

 are generally three in number. The young 

 hare merely the rudiment of a knob to the 

 bill (GwicTs Birds of Australia.) 



Another species, TBOPIDOHHTKCHUa AK- 

 GEXTICEPS, or Silvery-crowned Friar-bird, 

 inhabits the north-west coast of Australia. 



FRIGATE BIRD. (Tadtnpctcs.-) This 

 is an aquatic bird allied to the Cormorants, 

 from which, howevei, it differs by having a 

 forked tail, short feet, the membranes of 

 which are very deeply notched, an extra- 

 ordinary spread of wing (said to be ten or 

 twelve feet in extent), and a beak both man- 



dibles of which are curved at the tip. The 

 plumage is a richly-empurpled black, the 

 under part of the throat more or less varied 

 with white, and the beak red. In command 

 of wing it is equalled by none of its class ; 

 and it is accordingly met with at an im- 

 n.ense distance from all land, principally 

 between the tropics, where it is seen darting 

 upon the flying-fish, and attacking the gan- 

 nets and gulls in order to make them dis- 

 gorge their prey. It has received from 

 English sailors the names of Frigate-bird 

 and Man-of-war bird. It breeds on trees 

 on uninhabited islands, and lays a single 

 spherical white egg. 



Dr.Chamberlaine, in the Jamaica Almanac 

 for 1843, thus writes of the Frigate-bird : 

 " lie is almost always a constant attendant 

 upon our fishermen, when pursuing their vo- 

 cation on the sand-banks in Kingston har- 

 bour, or near the Palisades. Over their j 

 heads it takes its aerial stand, and watches 

 their motions with a patience and perse- \ 

 verance the most exemplary. It is upon 

 these occasions that the Pelicans, the Gulls, 

 and other sea-birds, become its associates and : 

 companions. These are also found watching 

 with equal eagerness and anxiety the issue ! 

 of the fishermen's progress, attracted to the 

 spot by the sea of living objects immediately | 

 beneath them. And then it is. when these 

 men are making their last haul, and the 

 finny tribe are fluttering and panting for 

 life, that this voracious bird exhibits his 

 fierce and voracious propensities. His him- ; 

 gry companions have scarcely secured their j 

 prey by the side of the fishermen's canoes, j 

 when with the lightning's dart they are I 

 pounced upon with such violence, that, to 

 escape its rapacious assaults, they readily 

 in turn yield their hard-earned booty to this 

 formidable opponent. The lightness of its 

 trunk, the short tarsi, and vast spread of j 

 wing, together with its long, slender, and 



