THE FRIGATE PELICAN. 
171 
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 com- 
mence breeding the third spring. But I now return to the habits of this 
interesting 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 waves 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 
observed 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 wings, 
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- 
