RAPIDITY OF FLIGHT. 79 



mercy of those who approach, and one blow on the head 

 generally kills it instantly. 



The Tropic-Bird is the very reverse of the heavy, gigantic 

 Albatross, and might fairly be called the fairy of the ocean ; 

 seen as it is in the genial latitudes of the warmest climates 

 of the globe, now a stationary speck, elevated as far as the 

 eye can reach, contrasted with the dark blue of the sky, like 

 a spangle in the heavens ; then suddenly descending like a 

 falling star, and as suddenly checking its course to hover for 

 a while over the topmost point of a vessel's masts, and then 

 darting like a meteor, with its two long projecting tail- 

 feathers streaming in the air downwards, on a shoal of flying- 

 fish ; and then rising gracefully with its prize, again to soar 

 aloft and take its rest above the clouds. 



But light and airy as is the Tropic-Bird, what shall we 

 say to the Frigate-Bird, which surpasses all others in its 

 powers of flight, inasmuch as, excepting at the breeding 

 season, it seldom visits the land ; and, still more extraor- 

 dinary, is never seen to swim or repose upon the waters ! Its 

 very structure, indeed, renders its living on either land or 

 water a matter of difficulty ; its wings are so long, that, like 

 the Albatross, unless perched upon the pinnacle of a rock, or 

 projecting point of a branch, it cannot take flight. Neither 

 is it adapted for a life upon the waves ; as its feet are but 

 partially webbed, and in addition to its length of wing, 

 which renders it as difficult to rise from a flat- water surface 

 as from the level ground of the land, its feathers are not of 

 that close and downy texture peculiar to aquatic birds ; 

 whereas, its whole form and internal arrangements are 

 calculated for, it may be almost said, eternal flight. Its 

 length of wing, ten or twelve feet from tip to tip, forked tail, 

 and short legs, (the thighs or tarsi not exceeding an inch in 

 length,) bear a close resemblance to those of our common 

 Swift, of whose wonderful powers of flight we have said so 

 much ; but nature has provided the Frigate-Bird with still 

 more surprising means, for not only floating for a time, but 

 for ever, without fatigue, in the regions of air, and even sleep 

 without risk of falling. We shall endeavour to explain this 



