30f) TACHYPETIDiE, FRIGATES. PHAETHONTIDiE, TROPIC BIRDS. GEN. 277. 



{Kennicott) ; Fort Thorn, New Mexico {Henry'). Nutt., ii, 507 ; Aud., vi, 

 443, p]. 420; Lawr. in Bd., 883; P. melanogastei- Wils., ix, 79, 82, pi. 



74, f. 1, 2 ANHINGA. 



^•^^ 



Family TACHYPETID^. Frigates, 



Bill longer than the head, stont, straight, wider than high at the base, thence 

 gradually compressed to the strongly booked extremit}'. Nostrils very small, linear, 

 almost entirely closed, in a long narrow groove. Gular sac small, but capable of 

 considerable distension. Wings exceedingly long and pointed, of about 34 remiges, 

 of which the 10 primaries are very powerful, with stout quadrangular shafts ; upper 

 and middle portion of the wings greatly lengthened. Tail very long, deeplj' forked, 

 of 12 strong feathers. Feet exceedingly small, the tarsus, in particular, extraor- 

 dinarily short (§ 75, p. 45), feathered; middle claw pectinate. Bulk of body 

 slight compared with the great length of the wings and tail. Here only in this 

 order is found the os uncinatum, a peculiar skull-bone occurring in nearly all the 

 petrels, the turacous {Musophagklce, p. 178) and manj' cuckoos. 



The frigates are maritime and pelagic birds of most warm parts of the globe. 

 Their general contour is unique among water-birds, in the immense length and 

 sweep of the wings, length of the forked tail aud extreme smalluess of the feet. 

 In command of wing they are unsurpassed, and but few birds approach them in this 

 respect. They are more nearly independent of land than any other birds excepting 

 albatrosses and petrels, being often seen hundreds of miles at sea, and delight to 

 soar at an astonishing elevation. They cannot dive, and scarcely swim or walk ; 

 food is pi'ocured by dashing down on wing with unerring aim, and by harassing 

 gulls, terns and other less active or weaker birds until they are forced to disgorge or 

 drop their prey. Their habit is gregarious, especially during the breeding season, 

 when thousands congregate to nest in low thick bushes hy the water's edge. The 

 nest is a shallow flat structure of sticks ; the eggs, two or three in number, are 

 greenish-white with a thick smooth shell. "The young are covered with yellowish- 

 white down, and look at first as if they had no feet. Thej^ are fed hy regurgitation, 



but grow tardil}', and do not leave the nest until 

 they are able to follow their parents on wing" 

 {Auduhon). The following is the principal if 

 not the only species. 



277. Genus TACHYPETES VieUlot. 



Frigate. Man-of-war Bird. $ brownish- 

 black, glossed with green or purplish, duller 

 on the bell}^ wings showing brown and 

 ^# gray ; ? with white on neck and breast. 



Fig. 190. Frigate. Length about 3^- feet ; extent about 8 ; wing 



2 ; tail \\ ; bill 5 or 6 inches ; tarsi 1 inch or less. S. Atlantic aud Gulf Coast. 

 Nutt., ii, 491 ; Aud., vii, 10, pi. 421 ; Lawr. in Bd., 873. • aquilus. 



Family PHAETHONTIDiE. Tropic Birds. 



Bill about as long as the head, stout, straight, compressed, tapering, acute, 

 paragnathous. Gular sac rudimentary, almost completely feathered. Nostrils 



