314 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



This remarkable exhibition of altruistic unselfishness hardly seems 

 to be in keeping with its well-known habit of eating its neighbors' 

 young. 



Winter. — The man-'o-war-bird is not a migratory species and is 

 practically a resident throughout the year in the general vicinity 

 of its breeding range. But between nesting seasons it is apt to 

 wander far from home and has often been noted or taken in most 

 unexpected places, even in the interior of the continent. During 

 the summer, fall, and winter it is often as gregarious as during the 

 breeding season, especially in its roosts at night, where it gathers 

 in enormous rookeries, frequenting the same roost regularly. Large 

 flocks of man-o'-war-birds may often be seen resting on the man- 

 groves during the daytime, in company with pelicans, cormorants, 

 and other water birds. It is also a common sight to see them 

 perched in flocks on sand bars, coral reefs, old wrecks, or abandoned 

 structures, lazily digesting their food or waiting for another meal. 



Since the above life history was compiled and long since most of 

 the above observations were made, the species then known as Fregata 

 aquila has been split into various species and subspecies, some of 

 which are undoubtedly worthy of recognition. But rather than at- 

 tempt to discuss or separate them, the author prefers to let- the life 

 history stand as it is, for the habits of all of them must be prac- 

 tically the same. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Breeding range. — The North American form breeds on some of 

 the Bahama Islands (Cay Verde, Biminis, Seal Key, Atwood's Key, 

 etc.), Cuba (Puerto Escondido), Isle of Pines, Porto Eico (Mona 

 and Desecheo Islands), some of the Lesser Antilles (Guadeloupe, 

 Battowia, Carriacou, etc.), on islands off the coast of Venezuela 

 (Margarita, Los Hermanos, Los Testigos, etc.) , and in the Caribbean 

 Sea as far west as Honduras (Little Cayman and Swan Islands). 

 The birds breeding on islands in the tropical Atlantic, and in the 

 Pacific and Indian Oceans are now regarded by some authorities 

 as distinct species or subspecies, but others regard the birds which 

 breed on islands off the west coast of Mexico (as far north as Santa 

 Margarita Island) as identical with the birds of the West Indies. 

 Breeding grounds protected in Porto Rico, Desecheo Island Eeser- 

 vation. 



Winter range. — ^Includes the breeding range and adjacent seas, ex- 

 tending northward, more or less regularly, to northern Florida and 

 the coast of Louisiana. Birds which wander to the coast of Cali- 

 fornia, as far north as Humboldt Bay, may be referable to one, or 

 perhaps more, of the Pacific forms. 



