SUPPLEMENT. 



591 



of years. The nest is large, being added to and repaired every sea- 

 son, until it becomes a black, prominent mass, observable at a con- 

 siderable distance. It is formed of large sticks, sods, earthy rubbish, 

 hay, moss, etc. The length of this Eagle is three feet, and its aver- 

 age extent of wing seven feet. The male is generally two or three 

 inches shorter than the female, as is the case, proportionately, with 

 most of the Falccmidce. The plumage of the male is also lighter, and 

 he is said to be less daring than his mate. This, too, is said to be 

 common with other birds of prey. 



Aramus gigantetjs. Crying Bird, Courlan. — This is rather a pe- 

 culiar bird, its appearance and habits being somewhat different 

 from any other, although closely allied to the Rails in the essential 

 points of its structure. It bears the name also of Scolopaceous Cour- 

 lan, and is numerous in South America and Cuba. In the United 

 States it is quite confined to the coast of Florida. A few instances 

 have occurred of its visiting the Middle States. It leads a solitary 

 life, only associating in pairs, having a piercing cry of Carau ! Ga- 

 rau ! which is heard both night and day. We have seen this bird 

 killed at Indian Key, Florida Eeef, while alighting upon the cocoa- 

 nut trees. At this time two women issued forth from their domestic 

 duties, each with a fowling-piece in hand. One of them brought the 

 pair of birds to the ground, and deliberately twisted off their necks, 

 and proceeded to prepare them for dinner, as they are much es- 

 teemed as game. 



Tachypetes aqotla. Frigate Bird, Man-of-War Bird. — This is 

 the only species of the family known on our coast, and is possibly 

 the same as that in the southern half of the continent. It is strictly 

 a maritime bird, and one that exhibits the most wonderful powers 

 of flight. During a long residence on the Florida Keef, where this 

 bird is more at home than on any other portion of the North Atlan- 

 tic shores, we have observed very carefully its habits. In the cooler 

 season, numbers of the Man-of-War Bird, as it is called there, were 

 seen at certain times soaring above the Fortress Jefferson, on the 

 Tortugas Keys. As these birds seemed to present the most remark- 

 able example of the buoyancy or other conditions that serve to sus- 

 tain them in the air for long periods without seemingly any wing 

 movements, we improved the opportunity to test, so far as was pos- 

 sible, the philosophy of the phenomenon. An old-fashioned light- 

 house tower was yet standing within the fortress, and this enabled 

 the observer to be about seventy-five or eighty feet from the ground. 



