FRIGATE-BIRD. 429 



points of honey-comb limestone, occasionally leaping 

 deep clefts, we came to the spot. Many birds of 

 both kinds were sitting on the low stunted trees, but 

 we could not find a single nest nor eggs ; though, 

 as my guide said, at some times they were numerous, 

 but only of the Pelican ; of the Frigate's nidification 

 he knew nothing. 



The gular pouch of the old male, is not connected 

 with the mouth, like that of the Pelican, but appears 

 to be an air-cell ; perhaps having some analogy to the 

 erectile caruncles of the male Turkey. If we take 

 the skeleton of the Pelican as a standard, the ster- 

 num of the Frigate is greatly developed laterally, 

 as that of the Booby is, longitudinally. The middle 

 claw is pectinated. I think I know of no bird so 

 infested with entozoic worms as the Frigate. Im- 

 mense bunches both of tsenoid and cylindrical worms 

 are found in almost every specimen, besides some 

 curious kinds apparently of a higher organization. 

 Bird-lice and bird-flies also infest it. 



One which was wounded, on being taken up, was 

 fierce, endeavouring to seize with his beak. And a, 

 specimen kept alive by Dr. Chamberlaine, became 

 animated and pugnacious when the children or ser- 

 vants approached it, and struck at them with its 

 formidable bill. 



