THE FRIGATE BIRD. 2 59 



five feet ; when they are flying, in the peculiar formation common 

 to most aquatic birds, with the neck stretched out and the legs pro- 

 jecting behind, they look, in the clear sky, like gigantic triangles of fire. 

 The ancients greedily sought after the flesh of the Flamingo, whicl 

 they regarded as the most choice food. The tongue especially was 

 thought to be an exquisite dainty, and the Emperor Heliogabalu* 

 appreciated it so highly that a body of troops was exclusively em- 

 ployed in slaughtering Phoenicopteri to satisfy his gastronomical tastes. 

 At the present day we no longer eat the bird ; to modern palates its 

 flesh is disagreeable in flavour, and it retains a marshy smell which 

 is far from being pleasant. With regard to the tongue, the Egyptians 

 it is said, are content with extracting an oil from it, which is used 

 to flavour some descriptions of viands. We must add, in order to 

 complete our account of the Flamingo, that it is covered with down 

 like a Swan, which is employed for the same purposes, and that its 

 thigh-bone is used in some countries in the manufacture of flutes. 

 The Flamingo (Phomicopteriis ruber, Fig. 95) is the only representa- 

 tive of this family we know. 



The Frigate Bird (Atagen aquila). 



The Frigate Bird is principally characterised by a strong, robust, 

 trenchant bill, longer than the head, with mandibles hooked at the 

 point ; nostrils linear; orbits naked ; throat dilatable ; the front of the 

 neck bare of feathers ; wings very long and narrow, first two feathers 

 longest ; tail lengthy and forked ; feet short ; toes united by a mem- 

 brane deeply notched. 



The Frigate Bird has a most expansive spread of wing ; its power 

 of flight is, therefore, very great. It inhabits the tropical seas of 

 both the Old and New World ; and navigators assure us that they 

 have met with it 200 or 300 leagues from any shore. When a hurri- 

 cane arises they mount up far above the storm, and remain in those 

 empyrean regions until it is again fine weather. In consequence of 

 their almost disproportionate spread of wing, they can sustain them- 

 selves in the air for lengthened periods, without taking or requiring rest. 



Their sight is so piercing that, at a distance far beyond that 

 which would render them invisible to us, they can perceive their 

 prey, the principal of which is the flying-fish. From their elevated 

 situation, they dart down upon their favourite food, which has relin- 

 quished its native element ; and, keeping their neck and feet in a 

 horizontal position, cleave asunder the air and grasp their victim, 

 who little expected to meet with an enemy in the element which it 



r 2 



