NATATORES. 443 



FRIGATE BIRDS. 



These birds, though in some respects nearly resembling the 

 Cormorants, yet at the same time, differ from them in the very 

 broad expanse of the wing, by which they are rendered the 

 most powerful of the Swimming Birds. They also differ from the 

 Cormorants in their feet, the webs of which are deeply notched, 

 and in the form of the tail and beak. The tail is very long, 

 deeply forked, and of twelve feathers; the bill is longer than 

 the head, strong, and broader than high, except towards its 

 curved extremity. The Frigate or man-of-war birds, seem par- 

 ticularly fond of the Flying fish, darting at it themselves when 

 near the surface of the water, or obtaining it from other birds 

 which they force to drop their prey. Often they sadly persecute 

 the Boobies. Indeed, these birds are eminently raptorial. Ray 

 speaks of their eagle eyes, vulturine claws, and kite-like glid- 

 ings. Their immense extent of wing and dashing habits have 

 obtained for them the name of the swiftest ships of war that 

 sweep the seas. 



The Frigate or Man-of-War Birds, are included in one genus 

 and species, Tachypetes, (Gr. tachus, swift; petdo, to fly,) or 

 Fregata aquilus, (Lat. from aquila, an eagle.) Their length 

 is three feet five inches ; the expanse of wings is eight feet ; 

 some accounts make it fourteen feet! Audubon says: "The 

 Frigate Pelican is possessed of a power of flight which I con- 

 ceive superior to that of perhaps any other bird." This bird is 

 very common on the intertropical American coasts, and in the 

 Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but always within reach of land. 

 It resides constantly on and about the Florida Keys, where it 

 breeds in vast numbers, on trees. Sometimes the nest is built 

 on elevated rocky cliffs. 



GANNETS, OR BOOBIES. 



These have bills differing somewhat from those of the Frig, 

 ate Bird, being long and resembling a lengthened cone which 

 is very large at the base and compressed towards the slightly 

 curved point ; the edges of the mandibles are serrated ; the 

 hind toe is articulated to the inner surface of the tarsus, and 

 all the four toes are united by a membrane ; the wings are long ; 

 the power of flight is however not equal to that of the Frigate 

 Bird ; the tail is wedge- formed. 



The COMMON GANNET of Europe, Sulaalla, (Lat. white,) is 

 sometimes called the SOLAN GOOSE. Its length is about thirty- 



