40 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 
Fregata aquila Lixy. 
Man-o’-War Birp. Frigate Brirp. 
Tachypetes aquila Betp1nG, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., V. 1883, 545 (Cape Region), 548 
(San José). 
Fregata aquila Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 260-265 (Cape 
Region; descr. nest, eggs, habits, and color of fleshy parts at San Margarita 
Island). 
The Frigate Bird is common in winter at La Paz, and in 1882 it was found 
by Mr. Belding at San José del Cabo as late as May 17. Mr. Frazar notes its 
‘arrival ” in autumn on September 9, at the latter locality, and on the 15th 
of March preceding records finding about fifty birds on a small island to the 
north of La Paz,“ roosting on some cactuses,”’ where they perhaps nested, also, 
later in the season. Mr. Bryant saw Frigate Birds along the estero north of 
Magdalena Bay, and “at the lagoon in lower Purisima cafion,” but most 
numerously on Santa Margarita Island, where there was a large breeding col- 
ony, of which he gives the following interesting description : — 
“ Going over to Santa Margarita Island from Magdalena Island on January 14, 
1888, I saw many of these birds on the wing, some of them idly floating at an im- 
mense height, so high as to be almost invisible, higher than I have ever seen hawks 
(Butec) sailing. Anchoring near shore, we waited until morning before landing. 
From the boat, the mangroves spoken of under the subject of cormorants, could 
be seen fairly covered with birds and a long whirling column of others on the wing 
extended far skyward. Birds were continually coming and going from this place, 
but none passed within gun-shot of the boat, and during my excursions by boat, 
more than five hundred miles in all, no man-o’-war bird came near enough for a 
shot.... 
“The birds were more quiet after dark, but some sounds could be heard through- 
out the entire night. At the first faint appearance of dawn, a continuous exodus 
would commence from the rookery, some of the birds flying high over the island 
more than four miles to the sea. 'The mangroves bordering upon the western side 
only of the lagoon were used for nesting sites, a partial vacancy midway seemed 
to separate two colonies. The mangroves being higher at the edge of the water, 
the nests were placed at heights varying from five to twelve feet. Procuring a 
small boat and the services of a Mexican, I skirted the edge of the lagoon for speci- 
mens of eggs and photographs of the rookery, showing the birds in all attitudes. 
They were usually quite tame but seemed more afraid of me when in the boat 
than when climbing over and through the mangroves, probably because in the 
first instance I was more exposed to view- Several birds were caught by hand and 
some others struck down with an oar as they pitched from the nest to fly past. 
Upon the water they beat their wings helplessly and were with great difficulty 
able to rise. Ina few cases a bird would miss getting on the wing by coming in 
contact with another and fall helplessly amongst the branches from which they 
were scarcely able to extricate themselves. They seemed bewildered by my pres- 
