22 FEEGATID^ FEEGATA 



Genus I. FREGATA. 



Type. 

 Fregata, Brisson, Orn. vi, p. 506 (1760) F. aquila. 



Bill long, slender and hooked at the tip, the lower mandible 

 also slightly decurved, culmen defined by a line on each side ; 

 nostrils rudimentary, liaear and basal ; skin of the chin and throat 

 bare, forming a gular pouch ; wiags very long and pointed, almost 

 reaching to the tip of the tail, first primary the longest ; tail of 

 twelve feathers, very long and deeply forked, the outer feathers 

 being about twice the length of the central ones ; tarsus short and 

 heavily feathered ; toes with the webs deeply emarginate and 

 reduced ; claw of the middle toe pectinated. 



Two closely allied species found throughout the tropical and 

 subtropical seas of both Hemispheres are generally recognised ; one 

 of these probably occasionally reaches our coasts. 



572. Fregata aquila. Frigate Bird. 



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

 Fregata aquila, Shelley, B. Afr. i, p. 160 (1896); Grant, Cat. B. M. 

 xxvi, p. 443 (1898) ; Iteiohenow. Viiij. Afr. i, p. 87 (1900). 



Description. Male. — Plumage black throughout, richly glossed 

 above with metallic purple ; tail of twelve feathers. 



Iris dark brown ; bill bluish-grey ; gular pouch scarlet ; feet 

 reddish. 



Length about 40-0 ; wing 22-0 ; tail 14-0; tarsus 07; culmen 40. 



Females have the whole breast white, this colour extending back 

 laterally to the flanks ; the back is brownish-black and most of the 

 wing-coverts have pale brown or whitish edges ; there is no gular 

 pouch, but the skin of the throat is plumbeous. 



Distribution.— This powerful flyer is spread all over the tropical 

 and subtropical seas of both hemispheres, and sometimes wanders 

 beyond those limits. It is a well-known bird on Ascension, where 

 it breeds on the Boatswain-bird Islet in company with the Boobies 

 and Wideawakes. It has also occurred at St. Helena, the Crozet 

 Islands, Madagascar and Kerguelen. 



There is no definite evidence of its being met with on the South 

 African coasts, but I have had described to me a bird which cer- 

 tainly appeared to be referable to this species ; it was seen by my 



