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130 



TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS — STEGANOPODES. 



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Mr. Salvin visited one of the breeding-plaees of this species, among some islands, 

 on tlie coast of Honduras, called " Man-of-\Var Keys." On his approach the birds 

 rose up in a cloud, and hung over the Key, like Rooks over a rookery. He describes 

 their manner of hovering as being apparently unattended by any effort, and declares 

 that no Eagle flies with the same ease as the Frigate-bird. He found this bird nesting 

 on the highest mangroves on the island. Three fourths of the nests contained young 

 of various ages, the youngest looking like imif-balls of pure white ; while those winch 

 hatl just escaped from tlie shell were lying helpless on the frail structure of sti(;ks 

 composing the nests. These are so slightly built that the young, in their earliest 

 infancy, must be in great peril. Where the eggs were still unhatched, the birds 

 could hardly be driven from them. This reluctance on the part of such birds as 

 build an open nest to leave their eggs exposed to the direct rays of a tropical sun, 

 Mr. Salvin had previously noticed ; but on cloudy day's tlie same solicitude is not 

 manifested ; and it always seemed to be in proportion to the age of the offspring, or 

 the degree of development of the embryo. 



Tlie Frigate Pelican is a great wanderer, and has been met with on the southern 

 coasts of Europe and on those of Africa. Mr. J. C. Melliss (" Ibis," 1870) states that 

 this species is known formerly to have frequented the landing-steps at Jamestown, 

 on the Island of St. Helena, and to have bred on a portion of the iiouthwest coast of 

 that island, at a locality known as the Man-of- War's Roost. It is now seldom met 

 with in that region. Mr. E. L. Layard, in a letter to the " Ibis " (1871), also men- 

 tions that in his voyage to South Africa, while steaming from St. Helena to Ascension, 

 a Frigate-bird paid great attention to the dog-vane of the foremast head, and suc- 

 ceeded in tearing away half the bunting. It being Sunday, the bird was not interfered 

 with. 



In the Atlantic this bird occasionally wanders to the liermudas. Major Wedder- 

 burii mentions the occurrence of an individual there, Sept. 27, 1848. A large Frigate- 

 bird had been observed soaring about in the dock-yard at Ireland Island, and it finally 

 flew into one of the barracik-rooms of the Royal Artillery, thus making its escape for 

 the time. Rut it v.*as shot eventually ; and three days later another was secured. 

 This was when a stro'ig easterly gale had been blowing for some time. Two other 

 instances of its capture in Rermuda are on record. 



This species also occurs, as an irregular visitor, on the Pacific cioast, as far north 

 as San Francisco. Dr. Cooper was informed of a single example shot at San Diegt. 

 It had entered the Ray, and alighted on the mast of an old hulk anchored there. He 

 was also told by others that this bird is common at some seasons outside of the Ray. 

 The skull of an individual of this species was obtained at the Farallones by Mr. 

 Grnber. 



Roth Colonel Grayson and Mr. Rischoff met with the Frigate-bird off Mazatlan, in 

 Western Mexico ; and the former found it breeding in large numbers on the Island of 

 Isabella. There was only one egg in each nest, and that was pure white, and nearly 

 the size of that of the Common Goose. 



Mr. Gosse visited a large roosting-place of this species near Rluefields, Jamaica. 

 At most hours of the day the birds might be seen resting, in large numbers, on lofty 

 trees, or else soaring and circling round and round over the place. In their size mid 

 color, in the graceful freedom of their motions, and in tlu; sublimity of the elevation 

 attained by them in their flight, they might be confounded with the Turkey Vulture, 

 but for the curvature of their wings, their long-pointed tail, often opened and closed, 

 and the superior elegance of their form. When about to alight, the Frigate-bird sonie- 

 times cackles ; but it is generally silent. Mr. Goase never saw it attack the Booby for 



