THE FRIGATE PELICAN - . 
173 
it when almost over my head, and immediately picked it up. I had- been 
for years anxious to know what might be the use of the pectinated claws of 
birds; and on examining both its feet with a glass, I found the racks crammed 
with insects, such as occur on the bird’s head, and especially around the 
ears. I also observed that the pectinated claws of birds of this species 
were much longer, flatter, and more comb-like than those of any other 
species with which I am acquainted. I now therefore feel convinced, that 
however useful this instrument may be on other occasions, it is certainly 
employed in cleansing parts of the skin of birds which cannot be reached 
by the bill. 
At times these birds'may be seen chasing and jostling each other as if 
engaged in a frolic, after which they bear away on extended wings, and fly 
in a direct course until out of sight. But although their flight is easy and 
powerful, in a degree not surpassed by any other bird, they move with great 
difficulty on the ground. They can rise, however, from a sand-bar, no 
matter how low and level it may be. At such times, as well as when sitting 
on the water, which it occasionally does, the bird raises its wings almost 
perpendicularly, spreads its tail half erect, and at the first flap of the former, 
and simultaneous stroke of the latter, on the ground or the water, bounces 
away. Its feet, however, are of little service beyond what I have mentioned, 
and the supporting of its body when it has alighted on a branch, on which 
it rarely stands very erect, although it moves sideways on it, as Parrots 
sometimes do. It never dives, its bill in form resembling that of the Cor- 
morants, which also never plunge from on wing in pursuit of fish, and only 
dip into the water when dropping from a perch or a rock to escape danger, 
as the Anhingas and some other birds are also accustomed to do. 
When the Frigate Pelican is in want of a dead fish, a crab, or any floating 
garbage suited to its appetite, it approaches the water in the manner of 
Gulls, holding its wings high, and beating them until the bill has per- 
formed its duty, which being accomplished, the bird immediately rises in 
the air and devours its prey. 
These birds see well at night, although they never go to sea excepting by 
day. At various times I have accidentally sailed by mangrove keys on 
which hundreds were roosted, and apparently sound asleep, when, on my 
firing a gun for the purpose of starting whatever birds might be there, they 
would all take to wing and sail as beautifully as during day, returning to the 
trees as the boats proceeded. They are by no means shy; indeed they seem 
unaware of danger from a gun, and rarely all go off when a party is shooting 
at them, until a considerable number has been obtained. The only difficulty 
I experienced in procuring them was on account of the height to which they 
so soon rose on leaving the trees ; but we had excellent guns, and our worthy 
