240 FEEGATID^. 



Family FEEGATIDiE (Pouncing Fishers). Frigate Birds. 



Bill long, nostrils in a groove, basal and linear, both mandibles bent down- 

 wards. Dark-coloured oceanic birds. Tail forked. "Web between toes deeply 

 emarginate. Single egg. ' 



Frigate Birds live by piracy in tropical seas just as the Skuas do in colder 

 latitudes, and use their powerful flight in pursuing Gannets, Gulls, and Terns, in 

 order to rob them of their prey. 



Genus FREGATA. 



Bill long, strongly hooked at end, and both mandibles bent down. Nostrils 

 basal and linear in deep groove. Long tail forked, of twelve feathers. Large 

 naked gular pouch, capable of great distension. Mid claw pectinated inside. 

 Wings very long and pointed. First quill longest Intertropical seas. 



276, Fregata aquila. The Feigatb Bird. 



(Sometimes called "SeaTHawk," "Man-of-War Bird," and might also be called 



a "GannetrEagle.") 



(J 37" to 40". Legs red. Bill blue-grey. Glossy black throughout. Gular 

 pouch red. Breast and sides black. No white patch on flank. Young with 

 head, neck, and abdomen white. — Female : breast and sides white. No white 

 collar round back of the neck. ' Tropical and subtropical seas. Christmas Island, 

 Indian Ocean. (J. 1000. B. 1524.) 



277. Fregata ariel. The Smaller Frigate Bird. 



$ 30" to 33". Legs, $ black, $ red. Bill grey. Head and above ferrugi- 

 nous brown. Similar to F. aquila, but male has a white patch on each flank, 

 and female has a white collar round the back of the neck. Tropical parts of 

 Indian and Pacific Oceans from Madagascar to the Society Islands. (B. 1525. 

 S.F. vii. 447.) 



Order TUBINARES. 



Nostrils terminating externally in tubes separate or united. Horny covering 

 of bill divided into several pieces by deep grooves. Hind toe small, rudimentary 

 or absent. Anterior toes webbed throughout. Primaries eleven. Fifth secondary 

 wanting. Oil-gland tufted. Special feather tract well developed. Schizognathous. 

 Single egg. Young helpless, clad in down till fully grown. Sexes alike. 



Nostrils united externally in one ( Oceanitbs . ■ ■» ^ -r, 



\ f~, !- Storm Petrels. 



tube ' Ctmodroma 



Nostrils united externally with two ( Pupfinus 



openings ( Daption . 



Nostrils distinct .... Pblbcanoides 



[ DiOMEDBA 



Nostrils separate, in horny sheath . \ Thalassogeeon 



I Phcebeteia 



* Not represented in India. 



Shearwaters. 

 Fulmars. 

 Diving Petrels. 



Albatrosses.* 



