RAPIDITY OF FLIGHT. 97 



others in its power of flight, inasmuch as, excepting 

 at the breeding season, it seldom visits the land; 

 and, still more extraordinary, 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 Alhatross, 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 ar- 

 rangements 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 w r ith 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 

 (at first sight) most improbable capacity, so as to 

 render it no longer a matter of doubt or difficulty, 

 but merely an additional instance of the beautiful 

 arrangement adopted by the providence of God in 

 all his wondrous works. 



On examining it, we shall find just beneath the 

 throat, a large pouch communicating with the lungs, 



VOL. I. n 



