Order ANSERES.] [Fam. PELECANIDjE. 



FKEGATA AQUILA. 



(GREA.T FRIGATE BIRD.) 



The Man-of-War Bird, Edwards, Gleanings, vi. p. 209, pi. 309 (1760). 

 Pelecanus aquilus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 216 (1766). 

 Frigate-Pelican, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 587 (1785). 

 White-headed Frigate-Pelican, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 591 (1785). 

 Palmerston Frigate-Pelican, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 593 (1785). 

 Pelecanus leucocephalus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 572 (1788). 

 Pelecanus palmerstoni, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 573 (1788). 

 Fregata aquila, Illiger, Prodr. p. 279 (1811). 

 Tachypetes aquila, Vieill. N. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xii. p. 143 (1817). 

 Tachypetes aquilus, Kittl. Kupf. Vog. p. 15, taf. xx. fig. 1 (1832). 

 Tachypetes leucocephalus, Kittl. Kupf. Vog. p. 15, taf. xx. fig. 2 (1832). 

 Atagen aquila, Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 669 (1845). 

 Tachypetes palmerstoni, Cass. U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 359 (1858). 



Spec, nigricans, plumis versus apicem brunnescentibus et sub certa luce chalybeo nitentibus : tectricibus 

 alarum brunnescente late terminatis, medianis albido marginatis : remigibus nigris, secundariis sordide 

 okvascenti-brunneis et pallidiore brunneo terminatis : rectricibus nigris brunneo marginatis, scapis 

 albis : pileo et collo undique cum pectore anteriore albis, hoc pallide ferrugineo lavato : pectore laterali 

 cum tibiis, crisso, subcaudalibus et subalaribus brunnescenti-nigris : abdomine toto albo : rostro cine- 

 rascente, ungue corneo versus apicem nigro : pedibus carneo-brunneis : iride nigra. 



Example (immature). Head, greater portion of neck, and a broad continuation witb its apex on the fore 

 part of the breast white, stained with fawn-colour on the fore neck and breast ; a broad triangular patch 

 of white covering the whole of the abdomen ; the rest of the body-plumage brownish black, with dull steel 

 reflections, and strongly tinged on the upper surface with umber-brown ; the upper wing-coverts are 

 broadly edged with pale brown, and the central ones margined with white, forming a conspicuous band 

 from the bend of the wing to the roots of the inner secondaries, which are dark olivaceous-brown in 

 their whole extent, tipped with paler brown ; wing-feathers black, with faint steel-blue reflections, the 

 scapulars margined with brown ; tail-feathers black, with white shafts, also margined with brown. 

 Irides black ; bill greyish, changing to horn-colour on the unguis, and black at the tip ; feet flesh- 

 brown. Total length 39 inches; extent of wings 82 ; wing, from flexure, 24; tail 16 (the middle feather 

 9 inches shorter) ; bill, along the ridge 5, along the edge of lower mandible 5 ; middle toe and claw 35 ; 

 hind toe and claw 1. 



Remarks. The form of this bird is beautifully adapted to its habits of life. As will be seen from the above 

 description, the wings measure nearly seven feet in extent ; moreover they are strongly built, the shaft 

 of the first primary measuring a quarter of an inch in width by one eighth in thickness throughout its 

 lower portion. The first primary is longest, and the rest are rapidly graduated ; the long inner second- 



2 t2 



