FRIGATE PELICAN. 497 



ing now to within five inches of the angle on the breast. The white of 

 the intermediate space has become much purer ; here and there light tints 

 of bronze appear; the feet, which at first were dull yellow, have become of 

 a rich reddish-orange, and the bill is pale blue. The bird is now capable 

 of breeding, although its full plumage is not obtained until the next 

 moult, when the colours become glossy above, and the white of the breast 

 pure. 



The changes which the males undergo are less remarkable. They 

 are at first, when fully fledged, entirely of the colour seen on the upper 

 parts of the young females ; and the tint is merely improved afterwards, 

 becoming of a deeper brownish-black, and acquiring purer reflections of 

 green, purple and bronze, which in certain lights are seen on every part 

 of the head, neck and body, and in very old males on the wings and 

 tail. They also commence breeding the third spring. But I now return 

 to the habits of this interesting bird. 



The Frigate Pelican is possessed of a power of flight which I conceive 

 superior to that of perhaps any other bird. However swiftly the Cayenne 

 Tern, the smaller Gulls or the Jager move on wing, it seems a matter of 

 mere sport to it to overtake any of them. The Goshawk, the Peregrine, and 

 the Gyr Falcon, which I conceive to be the swiftest of our hawks, are ob- 

 liged to pursue their victim, should it be a Green- winged Teal or Passenger 

 Pigeon, at times for half a mile, at the highest pitch of their speed, before 

 they can secure them. The bird of which I speak comes from on high with 

 the velocity of a meteor, and on nearing the object of its pursuit, which 

 its keen eye has spied while fishing at a distance, darts on either side 

 to cut off" all retreat, and with open bill forces it to drop or disgorge 

 the fish which it has just caught. See him now ! Yonder, over the 

 waves leaps the brilliant dolphin, as he pursues the flying-fishes, which 

 he expects to seize the moment they drop into the water. The Frigate 

 Bird, who has marked them, closes his wings, dives toward them, and now 

 ascending, holds one of the tiny things across his bill. Already fifty 

 yards above the sea, he spies a porpoise in full chase, launches towards 

 the spot, and in passing seizes the mullet that had escaped from its dread- 

 ed foe ; but now, having obtained a fish too large for his gullet, he rises, 

 munching it all the while, as if bound for the skies. Three or four of 

 his own tribe have watched him and observed his success. They shoot 

 towards him on broadly extended pinions, rise in wide circles, smoothly, 



VOL. III. I i 



