FREGATIDjE. 337 



Family FREGATID^E. 



This family is formed by a single genus containing the Frigate- 

 birds rather large dark-coloured oceanic birds, which far surpass 

 all other Steganopodes in expanse of wing, and greatly resemble 

 Accipitrine birds in their mode of flight. Although, as in other 

 families of the present order, all four toes are united by a mem- 

 brane, the web is much less developed than in the allied forms. 

 The tarsus is broad and very short. Furcula arichylosed to keel of 

 sternum ; nostrils not pervious. Cervical vertebrae 15 ; syringeal 

 muscles present ; ambiens and femoro-caudal developed, the other 

 characteristic thigh-muscles wanting. 



Frigate-birds breed on oceanic islands. The nest of sticks 

 is placed ou rocks or on bushes, and a single \vhite e^g is laid. 



Genus FREGrATA, Brisson, 1760. 



Bill long, straight, and strongly hooked at the end, both man- 

 dibles being curved downward at the tip; culmen flattened, lateral 

 grooves deep, bifurcating at the dertrum or nail, and the lower 

 branch terminating in a notch in the rnargiu; nostrils in the 

 groove, basal and linear. A large naked gular pouch. Wings 

 very long and pointed : 1st quill considerably the longest. Tail 

 of 12 feathers, deeply forked. Tarsus very short, feathered ; middle 

 toe longest ; web between toes deeply emargiiiate ; claws long, 

 curved, tliat of middle toe pectinated inside. 



Two or three species are known and range throughout tropical 

 seas; two have been taken within Indian limits. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Bin from gape about 5 inches F. aquila, p. 338. 



b. Bill from gape about 375 inches . F* ariel, p. 338. 



Fig. 77. Head of F. arid. 



Frigate or Man-o'-war Birds are well known to seamen from 

 their remarkably powerful flight, and from the use they make of 

 their speed in pursuing Ganuets, Gulls, and Terns in order to rob 

 them of their prey. The Frigate-birds live by piracy in tropical 

 seas, just as the Skuas do in colder latitudes ; but the species 

 of Frujata do not confine themselves to nsh takeu by other birds : 



YOL. IT. 2 



