42 C/nhimas Island. 



Order PELE0ANIF0RMF:S. 



Sub-Onlc=r FIIKGATI. 



14. Fregata aquila. 



herjatn aquila (f.inri.), Hhjirpf;, I'.Z.H., 18«7, p. 516; Lister, P.Z.S., 1888, 

 p, ;>2'J ; ()j,'ilvi(! (Irnnt, ('fit. 15. I'.rit. Miis., xxvi, p. 443 (1898); 

 Hhiirpc, Ilaridl. IJ., i, ji. %',! (189'j^. 



n, h, J Q. l-'lviriK Fiwh Covo, Novomh«rr 13, 1807. 



<'» (f'l 6 V .i"^'- " ''''y"'K I''i«^> ^'<'Vo, November 4, 18, 1897. 



Aeeordiri^ to Mr. ArxlrewH, who shot houic breedirij^ birds, the 

 iruile of tbe ]arp;e l''ri;^;i.t(: F'ird is iiltiio.st entirel}' l)I;ifk', br:in^ 

 vvbite only from tlie lower breji.st down to the; vent, incliHliri^ tlie 

 lower flankH and npjuT part of the thighH. The female is black 

 a.bove, and lias the throat })lac.k, but is white from the lower throat 

 downwards; the sides c>f the body blaok, with a larfi;e white pateli 

 on th(! flanks. The youn^ birds have a nisty-coloiired head and 

 throat. 



[l'eilia[)S tlie most interestinj^ of the birds of (Ihristmas Island 

 are the FH^ate- birds, two sjx^cifis of whieh oeeur. Niimluirs of 

 those birds eould nearly always he seen sailinj^ and eirelinj? in th(5 

 air at all hei<;hts ; in calin weather they of't<;n soar till seareely 

 visible. The flight is womh ifiilly ^'I'acefid, and it is a pleasiin; 

 to wateh a, ^roup itioviii^ alori)^ t,h(; (toast in a. sueeession of 

 swecpin;:; circles, risin;.!; against the wind, or (l(!scendin<^ with it. 

 In tli<,dit the head is earned close to tlie body, ,so that the bird 

 seems to hav(! no n(!ck, and tlus ti[) of the y)eak is about rjn a level 

 witli th(! ant(!rior anj^U; of the oiitstn^tclicd win^s. The feathers 

 are oftttn cleaiKnl during flight, and occasionally the bird shakes 

 itself lil<<! a dog that has just left the wat<;r, dro[)ping through 

 th(! air meanwhile. The young birds se(;m to be able to fly 

 perfectly well as soon as ihcy leave th(! nest, and groups of them 

 eoidd oflcn be seen near the coast stooping to the wat(;r, one after 

 the other, to pick up leaves and other floating objects, and then 

 drojiping them, api)ar«!ntly practising the method by which their 

 parents obtain their food, which consists of surface fi^h and 

 ceplialopods. I never saw a Frigate-bird dive. 



The old birds by no means depend for food on the fisli they catch 

 themselves, but systenwdically rob tlu; (iannets, which bi'ced in 

 great nund)ers on the island. Towards sunset many Frigate-birds 

 may be s(;en sailing along tlu- coast, watching for the return of tlie 

 (larinr^ts, fidl-fed from tlu; fishing grounds. The birds being well 

 awar<! of what is in stores for them, and knowing that if they can 

 nsaeh the shelter of the trees tlusy are safe;, approach tin; island at 

 a gniat speed, flying as hiw down as possible. I'sually, whih; they 

 are still at some distance, two or three Frigate-birds give chase, and 



