FREGATID^ — THE FRIGATE PELICANS — FREGATA. 



127 



Family FREGATIDiE.— Tiik Frigate Pelicans. 



Char. Bill longer than the head, thick, hut hroader t'.iari deep, the culmen 

 gently concave, and the terminal ungui strongly decurved ; nostrils ohliterated. 

 C-uIar pouch naked, but rest of the head scantily feathered except on top, where 

 densely clothed. Wings and tail excessively elongated, the latter deeply forked. 

 Tarsi excessively abbreviated, wholly concealed by feathers ; toes weak and slender, 

 the middle much longer than the outer, which again greatly exceeds the inner ; 

 middle claw with its inner edge flattened and pectinated ; webs occupying less than 

 half the space between the toes. 



A single genus only is known, which includes two closely allied species, or per- 

 haps more properly, geographical races. They inhabit the sea-coasts of intertropical 

 countries. 



Genus FREGATA, Cuvier. 



Atagen, " Moeriiing, Gen. Av. 1752." 



Fregata, Cuv. Le?. d'Anat. Comp. I. tabl. ii. 1799-1800. 



Halieus, Illig. Prodr. 1811, 279. 



Tachypetes, Vieill. Analyse, 1816, 63 (type, Pelecamis aquilus, Linn.). 



Char. Same as those of the family ; see above. 



F. aqutla. 



