MAN-O'-WAR-BIRDS 185 



brown margined with paler; chest brownish, belly white. L., 50*00; W., 19'59; 

 Tar., 2-65; B., ll'OO. 



Range Gulf coast of U. S. and Atlantic coast of Cen. and S. Am. 

 Breeds from S. C. and La. s. to Brazil; casual in N. C.; accidental in 

 Wyo., Nebr., Iowa, Ills., Ind., Mass., and. N. S. 



Long Island, one record. 



Nest, in colonies, of sticks or weed-stalks, etc., in mangrove bushes or 

 on the ground. Eggs, 3, similar in color to those of the preceding species, 

 3'00 x 1'95. Date, Pelican Is., Fla., usually Dec. 1; Gulf Coast, Fla., Apl. 

 4; So. Car., May 23. 



At all seasons the Brown Pelican is maritime. It is a permanent 

 resident in Florida, but nevertheless migrates regularly to its ancestral 

 nesting-grounds, those of the east coast reaching Pelican Island in 

 Indian River about November 1. Eggs are laid by December. They 

 hatch in about four weeks, and their young fly when about ten weeks 

 old. They are exceedingly noisy but the adults are virtually silent. 



The Pelicans of Pelican Island go fishing possibly fifty miles or more 

 up or down the coast from their island home. With a favorable wind 

 they travel high before it; with a head wind they skim low over the 

 waves usually just outside the breakers. The usual flock-formation is a 

 diagonal single file, and the birds progress by alternate flapping and 

 sailing in unison. The first wing-stroke after a sail is generally given 

 by the leader, not because he is in command, but because, being in 

 advance, he encounters greater air-resistance and is the first to lose 

 momentum when sailing. 



Unlike the White Pelican, this species secures its prey by diving. 

 Singly, in pairs, or in small flocks, they beat back and forth, generally 

 about twenty feet above the water, and when opportunity offers, plunge 

 downward with such force that the spray dastes high about them, 

 and the resulting splash may be heard half a mile. They usually fish 

 at sea and feed chiefly on menhaden. 



1900. CHAPMAN, F. M., Bird Studies with a Camera, 191-214. 1908 

 Camps and Cruises, 83-112 (biographical). 1905. JOB, H. K M Wild Wings, 

 1-18. 



14. FAMILY FREGATID^E. MAN-O'-WAR-BIRDS. (Fig. 32.) 



Man-o'-war-birds, or Frigate-birds, are found throughout inter- 

 tropical seas. One of the two known species occurs in America. They 

 are strictly maritime, and, while sometimes observed at great distances 

 from the land, are met with in numbers only near the coasts. They 

 have a greater expanse of wing in proportion to the weight of their 

 body than any other bird, and in power of flight are unsurpassed. 

 Facing the wind, they pass hours resting motionless on outstretched 

 wings, sometimes ascending to great heights and calmly soaring far 

 above storms. It is when feeding that their marvelous aerial powers 

 are displayed to the best advantage. By swift, indescribably graceful 

 darts they secure fish which are near the surface, or capture those which 

 have leaped from the water to escape some enemy below. They also 



