THE OAR-FOOTED SEA-FLIERS. 



225 



them the fervour of inter-tropical heat, but it seldom wanders so far from land as they. It has indeed 

 been reported to have been seen at a distance of from six hundred to seven hundred miles from the 

 nearest coast, but generally speaking, it seldom flies to more than from twenty to fifty miles from the 

 shore, to which it usually resorts in stormy weather. At the earliest dawn of morning it leaves its 

 sleeping-place, and may soon afterwards be observed making broad circles in the air, or flying rapidly 

 against the wind towards the sea in search of food. After catching fishes until satisfied, it returns to 

 the dry land, which it reaches, should the weather be stormy, about noon, but if fine, not until later 

 in the day. Mr. Gosse, wishing to know at what time this species retired to their resting-places, 



THE FRIGATE BIRD ( Tachypetes aquila). ONE-FIFTH NATURAL SIZE. 



visited one of these, arriving there just at sunset, but found to his mortification that he was too late ; 

 already the Frigate Birds, Gannets, and Pelicans that resorted to the spot, had retired to roost. At 

 his approach, however, the whole assembly rose as it were in a mass from the trees where they had 

 been reposing, the Frigate Birds instantly flying far out to sea, or sailing in beautiful circles high in 

 the air, neither did they return until darkness had completely set in. A few days later, the same 

 observer visited the place at an earlier hour, arriving about three or four o'clock in the afternoon, but 

 even then he found that the greater number of them had got home, and were quietly digesting the 

 result of their day's employment. 



This bird, according to Bennett, being incapable of swimming and diving, may generally be seen 

 on the alert for flying-fish, when these are started into the air by Albicores and Bonitas, and when 

 vol. iv. — 147 



