Oedek STEGA^^OPODES.] 
[Fam. PELECANID^. 
TACHYPETES MINOR 
(SMALL FEIGATE BIRD.) 
Lesser Frigate Pelican, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 2, p. 590 (1785). 
Pelecanus minor, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 572 (1788). 
Tachypetes minor, Vieill. N. Diet. d’Hist. Nat. xii. p. 144 (1817). 
Atagen arid. Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 669, pi. 104 (1845, ex Gould MSS.). 
Fregata minor, Buller, Birds of New Zealand, 1st ed. p. 342 (1873). 
Exempl. ex N. Z. Nigricans, plus minusve purpureo et viridi nitens : dorsi plumis elongatis lanceolatis et pectore 
laterali nitide viridibus aut purpurascentibus : teotricibus alarum cum hypocliondriis bruuneo tinctis : 
remigibus caudaque nigris, scapis rectricum exteriorum albis : rostro nigricanti-cano : plaga gulari laete 
rubral, flavo tincta : pedibus brunnescenti-rubris ; iride nigr^. 
New-Zealand specimen. General plumage black with bluish metallic reflexions, more or less distinct ; the long 
lanceolate feathers of the back and on the sides of the breast brilliant, and changing from purple to green, 
according to the light ; upper wing-coverts and sides of the body tinged with brown ; quills and tail-feathers 
black, the shafts of the outermost tail-feathers white. Irides black ; bill blackish grey ; a bare membrane, 
an inch wide, and extending five inches down the throat, bright red tinged more or less with yellow ; feet 
brownish red. Total length 36 inches ; wing, from flexure, 23 ; tail, to middle of fork 7’25, to end of lateral 
feathers 15 ; bill, along the ridge 4‘25, along the edge of lower mandible 3'6 ; greatest width of bill at the 
base l‘l ; middle toe and claw 2'75 ; hind toe and claw 1. 
This smaller species of Frigate bird, which roams over the seas washing the shores of the more 
tropical parts of Australia, has occurred at least once as a straggler on the New-Zealand coast, and is 
therefore entitled to a place in our list. A fine adult male was taken on the Wakapuaka beach in 
the early part of 1861 ; and the skin, which was fortunately preserved, now forms part of the collection 
of birds in the Nelson Museum. 
Mr. Gould states that this species of Frigate bird is very abundant in Torres Strait ; and the late 
Commander Ince, E.N., who, during the voyage of H.M.S ‘Fly,’ was for some time stationed on 
Kaiue’s Islet, superintending the erection of a beacon there, has given the following interesting 
particulars as the result of his own observations on this unfrequented rock: — “ We found this bird 
breeding in colonies at its S.W. comer, the nest being composed of a few small sticks collected from 
the shrubs and herbaceous plants, which alone clothe the island, and placed either on the ground or 
on the plants a few inches above it. The eggs, which are generally one, but occasionally two in 
number, are of a pure white, not so chalky in appearance as those of the Gannet, and nearly of the 
same shape at both ends. Upon one occasion I killed the old birds from a nest that contained a 
young one ; on visiting the spot I found the young bird removed to another nest, the proprietors of 
which were feeding it as if it had been their own ; I am sure of this fact, because there was no other 
nest near it containing two young birds.” 
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