birds. 447 



hurricane birds, the latter being expressive of the rapidity of their flight, 

 which is scarcely excelled by that of any other bird. Every one that 

 sees them writes the most enthusiastic description of their habits ; and we 

 cannot forbear quoting the description given by Mr. H. 0. Forbes, as he 

 saw them in the Cocos Keeling Islands of the Indian Ocean. He was 

 looking at the noddies and gannets, and " watching what has been 

 described over and over, but was new to me, how their industrious habits 

 are taken advantage of by the swift-winged frigate-birds. Hiding in the 

 lee of the cocoanut-trees, the frigate-birds would sally out on the suc- 

 cessful fishers returning in the evening, and perpetrate a vigorous assault 

 on them, till they disgorged for their behoof at least a share of their 

 supper, which they caught in mid-air as it fell. Such feelings of reproba- 

 tion as I ought to have felt at their conduct was, I fear, not very deep ; 

 for the swoop after the falling spoil was so elegant an evolution, that I 

 confess I always hoped that the poor noddy would give up as heavy a 

 morsel as possible in order to necessitate a correspondingly eager dive after 

 it. Refractory gannets were often seized by the tail by the frigate-birds, 

 and treated to a shake that rarely failed of successful results. Fierce foes 

 as they were in the air, on terra firnna they roosted near each other like 

 the best of friends. The islanders tame the frigate-birds, and use them 

 as decoys. A hunter wishing to shoot a few of these birds, throws out 

 within gunshot on the surface of the water a piece of attractive bait, 

 which the tame frigate-bird swoops down upon, almost ostentatiously, time 

 after time, to pick up. Several of its hungry brethren, always hanging 

 about, soon make their appearance to struggle after a share ; after two or 

 three gyrations, the eager stranger swoops down for the tempting morsel, 

 the decoy soars out of reach, while the unfortunate dupe falls a victim. 

 If the others take flight, the same tactics will be followed again and again 

 by the decoy, who exhibits no alarm at 

 the report of the gun, or the death-throes 

 of its companions." Not only do they 

 rob the noddies and gannets ; they even 

 steal the fish from the fish-hawks in the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



Frequently the stolen booty is too 

 large to be swallowed at a single gulp, 

 and then some astonishing tactics are 

 introduced. As described by Mr. Lankes- 



J Fig. 378. — Pouch of frigate-bird. 



ter, "A bite was taken from the body, 



being torn away by a wringing motion of the head which sent the carcass 



whirling, while the bird masticated the morsel into shape for swallowing. 



