ob8 ervaticms cm Birds of Gulf Coast 
of Florida. W.E.D.Scott. 
Fregata aquila. Man-o’-war Bird. — A resident species, but much 
more abundant during the warmer months of the year. They do not, so 
far as I am aware, breed at any point north of Charlotte Harbor, nor at 
that point. 
Wherever there is a salt water rookery, particularly of Pelicans or Cor- 
morants, these birds congregate in great numbers during the time the 
young birds are being reared, and at this season act much as do the para- 
sitic Gulls, stealing food from young and old birds. I have frequently 
seen them preying on Gulls and Terns when fishing, just as the Jaegers 
do. 
Auk, V, Oct,, 1888. p. 378 
ii. Fregata aquila. Man-o’-war-bird. — Noticed every day during 
my stay. They did not seem to come to this point for food, as they were 
rarely seen fishing for themselves or chasing the Terns for food. But 
almost every day about noon a party of from four to twenty of these birds 
came to Garden Key and, attaining a point just above the Harbor Light 
Tower on the northeast wall of the fort, they would begin to soar in 
what seemed a sort of way of resting. The circles were of about one 
hundred feet diameter: the flight very regular, slow and monotonous, 
with no apparent motion of the wings for hours. It tired one to look at 
them. They would keep this up till after dark at night ; at least they were 
to be seen as long as there was light to distinguish them, and on one moon- 
light night, not long before I left the Tortugas, at eleven o’clock I saw 
five of these wonderful flyers still soaring high above the light tower. It 
must not be thought that one of these birds came and that another went 
away and that so the appearance of tireless soaring was carried on. They 
came and went away in parties, and solitary individuals were exceptional. 
They are said to greatly increase in numbers about the time the young 
Terns and Noddies are hatched, and to persecute the old birds bringing 
food to their young. This I can readily believe, as such is their habit 
about Brown Pelican and Cormorant rookeries at like seasons. At the 
time referred to, I am told, they roost in great numbers on East Key.^ 
Dry Tortugas, Fla. March & AprilAHS* „ 
18f 0, W.E.D. Scott 1890,. 307 . 
