12 THE FRIGATE PELICAN. 



breeding, although its full plumage is not obtained until the next moult, 

 when the colours become glossy above, and the white of the breast pure. 



The changes which the males undergo are less remarkable. They are at 

 first, when fully fledged, entirely of the colour seen on the upper parts of 

 the young females; and the tint is merely improved afterwards, becoming of 

 a deeper brownish-black, and acquiring purer reflections of green, purple and 

 bronze, which in certain lights are seen on every part of the head, neck and 

 body, and in very old males on the wings and tail. They also commence 

 breeding the third spring. But I now return to the habits of this interest- 

 ing bird. 



The Frigate Pelican is possessed of a power of flight which I conceive 

 superior to that of perhaps any other bird. However swiftly the Cayenne 

 Tern, the smaller Gulls or the Jager move on wing, it seems a matter of 

 mere sport to it to overtake any of them. The Goshawk, the Peregrine, 

 and the Gyr Falcon, which I conceive to be the swiftest of our Hawks, are 

 obliged to pursue their victim, should it be a Green-winged Teal or Pas- 

 senger Pigeon, at times for half a mile, at the highest pitch of their speed, 

 before they can secure them. The bird of which I speak comes from on 

 high with the velocity of a meteor, and on nearing the object of its pursuit, 

 which its keen eye has spied while fishing at a distance, darts on either side 

 to cut off all retreat, and with open bill forces it to drop or disgorge the fish 

 which it has just caught. See him now! Yonder, over the w r aves leaps the 

 brilliant dolphin, as he pursues the flying-fishes, which he expects to seize 

 the moment they drop into the water. The Frigate-bird, who has marked 

 them, closes his wings, dives toward them, and now ascending, holds one of 

 the tiny things across his bill. Already fifty yards above the sea, he spies a 

 porpoise in full chase, launches towards the spot, and in passing seizes the 

 mullet that had escaped from its dreaded foe; but now, having obtained a 

 fish too large for his gullet, he rises, munching it all the while, as if bound 

 for the skies. Three or four of his own tribe have watched him and observ- 

 ed his success. They shoot towards him on broadly extended pinions, rise 

 in wide circles, smoothly, yet as swiftly as himself. They are now all at 

 the same height, and each as it overtakes him, lashes him with its Avings, and 

 tugs at his prey. See! one has fairly robbed him, but before he can secure 

 the contested fish it drops. One of the other birds has caught it, but he is 

 pursued by all. From bill to bill, and through the air, rapidly falls the fish, 

 until it drops quite dead on the waters, and sinks into the deep. Whatever 

 disappointment the hungry birds feel, they seem to deserve it all. 



Sights like these you may every day see, if you take ship and sail for the 

 Florida Keys. I have more to tell you, however, and of things that to me 

 were equally pleasing. While standing in the cool veranda of Major Glas- 



