1 82 CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



The Great Frigate- Bird {Fregatus aquild) is a striking object, 

 with its long, hooked beak, powerful wings, and forked, swallow- 

 like tail. The legs are extremely short, and feathered to the 

 toes, which have but an imperfect web. The dark plumage of 

 the male is relieved by a bright-reddish throat. Tropic-Birds 

 are well known from their habit of following ships. They are 



Fig. 124. — Albatross [Diomedea extdans] 



small and light-hued, differing from Frigate- Birds in the shape 

 of the beak, the complete webbing of the toes, and the nature of 

 the tail, of which the two middle quills are much elongated. 

 The commonest species is the Red-beaked Tropic- Bird {jPhathon. 

 csthereus), prevailingly white in colour, but with a coral-red beak. 



Order 16. — Petrels and Albatrosses (Tubinares) 



The birds of this order are good swimmers, and have webbed 

 feet not unlike those of the next two orders. They are essentially 

 marine, and have a wide distribution, being commonest, however, 

 in the seas of the southern hemisphere. The members of the 

 group are distinguished by being " tube-nosed ", i.e. the nostrils 



