1206 FREGATA MINOE. 



I subsequently saw two, which were killed from the lighthouse in Colombo in February 1853 ; one passed 

 into my possession, the other into the museum of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. I 

 frequently saw them during the month flying at immense altitudes over the coast." Next in order are the 

 observations of Mr. Holdsworth, who writes that he saw them on many occasions at Aripu during the 

 strength of the south-west monsoon, and they were generally in parties of five or six, at a considerable height 

 above the shore. In June 1877 an immature example was shot at Jaffna by Mr. Smart, of the CCS. As 

 regards my own experience, I have seen Frigate-birds, both at Colombo and Galle, during the months of 

 May, June, and July. The three examples I observed were all passing southwards along the coast. 



The range of this Frigate-bird is not so extensive as that of its larger congener. From the Indian 

 Ocean, to which it can only be considered a frequent straggler, it extends eastwards through the Malay 

 archipelago to Polynesia and the Australian seas, and ranges as far north as the China coasts, where Swinhoe 

 procured it at Amoy. Salvadori records it from Borneo doubtfully, but notes it from Batchian, the Aru 

 Islands, and the Moluccan seas ; and at the Admiralty Islands it was obtained by the ' Challenger ' naturalists. 

 It has been procured on the south coast of New Guinea, and in Torres Straits it is a common bird. At 

 Baine Island it was found breeding many years ago by Commander Ince, R.N., and more recently by the 

 naturalists of the ' Challenger.' It is further recorded from Port Darwin, Cape York, and Rockingham Bay. 

 On the north-west coast it is equally well distributed. As regards the Pacific Ocean, it is found at New 

 Caledonia, but is said not to extend into Central Polynesia like the larger species. Southwards it extends 

 to the coasts of New Zealand, where it has once occurred ; but it has not been observed in Tasmanian 

 waters. 



Habits. — Though far less has been written concerning the habits of this species than of its larger congener, 

 the well-known " Man-of-War " Bird of the Atlantic, whose powers of flight were, years ago, so well described 

 by that graphic writer Audubon, yet it possesses the same power of wing and marvellous speed when chasing 

 its prey. No oceanic species has such an expanse of wing, in proportion to the small size and light weight 

 of its body, as the Frigate-bird ; not even the Albatross, justly renowned for its length of wing and majestic 

 flight, can boast of so much power in relation to the work to be done, for although its bones are peculiarly 

 light, yet its frame is massive and heavy compared with the aerial form of the Man-of-War Bird. A glance at 

 the living bird or at the freshly killed specimen immediately displays these peculiarities ; the immense quills 

 and great length of the ulna- and humerus -bones conduce to form an ample wing which completely hides the 

 almost diminutive frame which has to be propelled. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Frigate-bird sails 

 along against the wind perfectly motionless, as if propelled by some invisible power, or that, in robbing the 

 Gannet or Tern of their prey, a few powerful strokes of its great pinions impart such a momentum that it 

 is enabled to rush like a rocket upon the frightened sea-birds, and catching the fish as it falls from their bills, 

 to rise again on its course as easily as it descended. 



The Frigate-bird takes its food entirely on the wing, either pursuing flying-fish, on which it subsists 

 largely, swooping on other sorts which happen to show themselves near the surface, sweeping down on crabs 

 and cuttle-fish, or pursuing Gannets, Terns, and Gulls and catching the food which they drop from their 

 bills before it reaches the water. Commander Ince, in writing to Mr. Gould, remarks that he found in the 

 females of those shot at Raine Island " young turtles, fish, cuttle-fish, and small crabs." I have seen these 

 birds soar round in short circles over a shoal of fish, now and then remaining suspended for a second or two 

 over some particular spot. At this time the wings were kept extended after the manner of a Kestrel's, when 

 it ceases for a moment to ply its pinions. At Galle and Colombo, where I observed the birds spoken of, 

 they were sailing along with their wings quite motionless, and were progressing slowly along against a 

 moderate breeze without any apparent exertion, the secret of which is to be found in the great impetus 

 given to the bird's frame by a few powerful strokes of its immense wings, and which is retained for a 

 lengthened period. Mr. Holdsworth aptly remarks of the examples he saw at Aripu : — " Their action, as they 

 hung as it were against the gale, slowly swaying first on one side, then on the other, strongly reminded 

 me of the behaviour of a large paper kite when it has mounted high in the air." I learn from my correspondent 

 Mr. Parker that the bird shot by Mr. Smart, when wounded, flew at his dog and seized him by the nose, 

 beating the dog off. 



