ti8 WATER BIRDS. 



clouds, and feeks ferener fkies, at elevations where he is beyond our fio-ht. 

 Ever on the wing, he flies night and day. Thofe fifh that go in fhoals 

 (as the flying- fifh, &c.) are purfued by dolphins, bonitos, &c. thefe he 

 difcerns fronn annazing heights, and notices the track or" a column with 

 the greateft accuracy : often the fhoal is fo large as to agitate the water, 

 and fo clofed together as to whiten it; then the frigate-bird, fkinnming 

 along the furface, feizes with his bill, or his claws, or both, thofe fifli 

 which ofl?er. Is principally found between the tropics in both hemi- 

 fpheres : tyrannizes over the Boobies, and makes them yield their prey ; 

 is a very bold bird ; has fharp claws ; long hooked fharp bill j ftiort, 

 ftrong feet, covered with feathers, like a bird of prey j rarely is feen to 

 fwim, yet his feet are membraned i like the boobies has no apparent 

 noftrils, but has futures on his bill. About the fize of a hen in body ; but 

 his wings eight, ten or fourteen feet, from tip to tip. This exceflive 

 length of wing embarrafles the bird when about to rife from the 

 ground, and obliges him to feek fome fmall elevation, for on level 

 ground he may be killed ere he can fly. Neftle on rocks, numbers 

 together ; fometimes on trees ; lay one or two eggs, white fl:ained 

 with fiefh colour, with dots of crimfon. The young have a grey white 

 down ; their feet and bills white, but, when adult, their colours change, 

 becoming reddifh or black, and blueifli in the middle. The head is 

 fmall, and flat at top, the male has under his throat a membrane of a 

 lively red, of the nature of wattles. Tail extremely forked. This, and 

 their long wings, difl:ingui{h them. Plumage ordinarily black, with blueifli 

 reflexions ; belly white, efpecially the females. Refcmbles the boobies 

 in the naked fkin around the eyes, and the dentatcd nail of the middle 

 toe. 



THE BOOBIES. 



THESE birds feem to have received from nature but a partial fhare 

 of that infi:in6b, by which creatures in general are prompted to 

 felf-prefervation : large and fl:rong, armed v^'ith a bill fufficiently power- 

 ful, with long wings, and well-membraned feet; they have all the ne- 

 ceflary abilities to exercife their faculties, as well in air, as in water, yet 

 they feem ignorant of what fnould be done, or Ihould not be done, for 

 felf-defence. Spread generally in moft climates 5 yet in none have they 



learned 



