426 ANSERES. PELECANID.E. 



silent. As they sit on the branches they are in- 

 cessantly employed in picking the vermin from 

 their bodies, with which they are much infested. 

 This is done partly with the beak, but partly with 

 the foot; and I have seen them, after scratching 

 themselves, put up the foot to the beak, appa- 

 rently delivering something into the mouth. Occa- 

 sionally they throw the head back, and make a 

 loud clattering with the beak. Passing along the 

 road one forenoon in May, a large number were 

 wheeling round the roosting place, some alight- 

 ing, and others rising. Those which were on the 

 wing uttered, particularly as they swooped near 

 the tree, on which they made as if they would 

 alight, a repeated chuck, not loud, with a rather 

 rapid iteration. 



It would appear that this place has been fre- 

 quented by the Frigates, for at least a hundred 

 years. Robinson has this note : " On a large cotton- 

 tree, between Mr. Wallo's and the Cave, by the sea- 

 side, come to roost many Man-of-war birds, about 

 four o'clock in the evenings, which tree may be 

 easily approached by a canoe, whence the Men- 

 of-war and other sea-fowl may be shot, either in 

 the evening, or before sunrise ; for the Man-of- 

 war birds will not leave their roosting-places be- 

 fore sunrise, in this resembling the Noddy. Dr. 

 Gorse of Savanna le Mar, from whom I had this 

 account, observed that the cotton-tree was blanched 

 or whitened by their dung." (MSS. ii. 83.) 



I have never seen the Frigate fishing ; but have 

 frequently found flying-fish in its stomach hal f 



