THE FRIGATE BIRD. 



485 



sweeps the bird, scoops up a number of fish in its capacious pouch, and 

 then generally goes off homeward. 



The nest of the Pelican is placed on the ground in some retired spot, 

 usually an island in the sea or the borders of some inland lake or a 

 river. It is made of grasses, and contains two or three white eggs. 

 The female sits on the eggs, and her mate goes off to fish for her ; and 

 when the young are hatched they are fed by the parents, who turn the 

 fish out of their pouches into the mouths of the young. 



The color of the Pelican is white, with a delicate roseate tinge like 

 that of a blush-rose. On the breast the feathers are elongated and of a 

 golden yellow. The quill feathers are black, and the bill is yellow tip- 

 pid with red. The length of the bird is almost six feet, and the ex- 

 panse of wung about twelve feet. 



The Frigate Bird (Atagen Aquila). 



The last bird on our list is the well-known Frigate Bird, Sea 

 Hawk, or Man-of-war Bird, an inhabitant of the tropical seas. It 

 derives its name of Man-of-war Bird from its habit of watching the 

 gannets when they fish, and than swooping upon them and robbing 

 them of their prey. 



The long black feathers of the tail are in great request among the 

 Society Islanders, being w^oven as ornaments into the head-dresses of 

 the chiefs. The nest of the Frigate Bird is sometimes built upon trees 



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