106 FRIGATE BIRDS. BOOBIES. DARTERS. 



themselves almost in a vertical position by the assistance of the tail. 

 The Common Cormorant, is of the size of a goose, and its plumage 

 is greenish black ; it inhabits the northern countries of both con- 

 tinents ; it nests sometimes in rocky clefts, and sometimes on trees 

 or among rushes, and feeds chiefly on eels. The Shags belong 

 to this genus. 



23. The FRIGATE BIRDS, Tachypetcs, (Plate 6, fig. 4.) also 

 differ from Pelicans in the absence of the sub-maxillary pouch, 

 in their forked tail, and in their short feet, the membranes of 

 which are deeply notched ; they have long wings that spread to 

 a great extent, and a beak, both mandibles of which are curved 

 at the end. 



24. These birds only inhabit inter-tropical regions, and their 

 flight is so powerful and rapid, that they fly to great distances from 

 land, and for this reason they have obtained the name of Man-of- 

 war birds. They are met with more than four hundred leagues 

 at sea, and they wage an active war against the flying-fish, 

 which, in order to escape from the pursuit of other fishes, springs 

 entirely out of water. Frigate birds also pursue Boobies, and 

 by striking them with their wings and beak, force them to dis- 

 gorge the product of their fishing, which they dexterously seize 

 before it falls into the water. 



25. The BOOBIES, Sula, very much resemble the preceding, 

 but their beak is straight, slightly arcuate at the point and armed 

 on the edges, with teeth, the points of which are directed back- 

 wards ; the throat, as well as the vicinity of the eyes, is naked, 

 and but little extensible ; the wings are less than those of the 

 Frigate bird, and the tail is a little wedge-shaped. They obtain 

 their name of Boobies from the stupidity they display in submit- 

 ting to the attacks of man and animals. 



26. The DARTERS, P lotus, (Plate 6, fiy. 8) resemble the 

 Cormorants in the form of their body, and in their feet, but are 

 distinguished from them by the length of their neck, their small 

 head, and by their straight, slender and pointed beak, which is 

 dentate on the edges. They inhabit the warm countries of both 

 hemispheres, and their habits are nearly the same as those of the 

 preceding. 



27. The Tropic Birds, Ph&ton, differ from the other Toti- 

 palmatae in having the head entirely feathered, and by the two 

 long, straight feathers of the tail, which at a distance resemble 



23. What are the characters of Frigate Birds? 



24. What are the habits of Frigate birds f Why are they called Man-of. 

 war birds ? 



25. What are the characters of Boobies? 



26. What are Darters ? 



27. What are the characters of Tropic birds? Why are they so called? 



