MAN-0-- WAR-BIRDS 



(128) Fregata aquila 



(Linn.) (Ital.. a frigate; Lat,, eagle). 



MAN-O'-WAR-BIRD; FRIGATE 

 BIRD. Eye brown. Bill long 

 and slender. Gular sac and feet 

 orange, the latter small and weak. 

 yid. c?'. — As shown by the perching 

 bird; plumage lustrous black, with 

 violet and greenish reflections. Ad. 

 9 . — Less lustrous and browner; 

 foreneck and bell}' white. L., 40.00; 

 Ex., go.oo; T., 18.00, forked 9.00; 

 Tar., .95; B., 500. Nesl — A frail 

 platform of sticks in low bushes or 

 trees; a single white egg, 2. So x 1.90. 



Range — Tropical coasts, breed- 

 ing north to Florida Keys; strays to 

 La., Tex. and Cal.; casually north to 

 Nova Scotia and accidentally to Ohio 

 and Wis. 



of wing compared to their weight than any other known 

 birds, and are able to float about for hours at a time with 

 no perceptible flapping. Their feet are totipalmate, but 

 are small and weak, and the webbing is of little extent. 

 They rarely alight on the water, but get the fish, upon which 

 they live, by quick dashes at those near the surface, by 

 catching in the air flying-fish or others which have leaped out 

 of water to avoid som.e enemy below; or by forcing terns, 

 boobies or pelicans to disgorge what they have captured. 



They build rude, stick nests on the tops of bushes, some- 

 times several nests being in a single bush. One egg con- 

 stitutes a full set. The young are hatched naked, passing 

 through a downy stage to the full pluinage. Curiously 

 enough, the back becomes fully feathered before the wing 

 feathers commence to grow. 



Order ANSERES. Lamellirostral Swimmers 



About two hundred species, separated into five sub- 

 famihes, are included in this Order. They all agree in 



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