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FREGATTA. FRIGATE-BIRD. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum capite longius, ro- 

 bust urn, integrum, supra 

 sulcatum; mandibular ar- 

 cuata?, apicibus acutis. 



Orbites nudar. 



Alee longissima?. 



Cauda forficata. 



Pedes breves; fo'fo'cpplurnosa?; 

 membranse parvae. 



Beak longer than the head, 

 robust, entire, suicated 

 above; the mandibles ar- 

 cuated, their tips acute. 



Orbits naked. 



Wings very long. 



Tail forked. 



Legs short ; tibia? plumose ; 

 membranes small. 



FREGATTA. Ray, Briss., Temm. 

 PELECANUS. Linn., Gmel., Lath. 

 TACHYPLETIS. Vieil. 



SEVERAL remarkable peculiarities are observable 

 in the structure of the Frigate-birds ; in the first 

 place they differ from the rest of the Natatores in 

 having the toes so slightly webbed as to incapacitate 

 them from swimming, the membrane scarcely reach- 

 ing to the second joint of each toe ; again, the im- 

 mense extent of wing in comparison with the size of 

 the bird is unparalleled in the birds of this order : 

 they differ from the rest of the family by their forked 



