The Frigate Bird.
Numb. L X X X . „
'"V U F . Indtam cs\\ it fo, becaufe of the Swiftnefs o f its Flight- its
, . . ? | ls no ^gger than a Pullet's, but the Stomach is very fleffiy •
the Males are as black as Ravens, the Neck long, the Head fmall, with
peat black Eyes, and the Sight more piercing than the Eagle’s; the Bill
is thick and mtirely black, about feven Inches long; the upper Beak at
the. end crooked like a Hook; the Toes are E g 1 8 3 ^ 8 2
black Talons, and divided as the Vulture’s, the Wings o f this Bird are
very large and long reaching beyond the Tail, and not without a
provident Defign of Nature, fince the Wings are fometimes employed
to carry him above a hundred Leagues from Land: It is with a great deal
of Trouble that he can raife himfelf upon the Branches, becaufe o f the
extraordinary length.of-his Wings; but when he has once taken his
Flight, he keeps his Wings extended almoft without Motion or Fatigue*
if fometimes the Weight o f the Rain or Violence of the Winds force
him, he mounts above the Clouds beyond Sight, in the middle Region
of the Air; and when he is at the higheft he does not forget where he
is, but remembers, the place where the Dolphin gives chafe to the flying
Filh, and then he throws himfelf down like Lightning; not fo as to
Itrike upon the Water, for then it would be difficult for him to rife
again; but when he comes within twelve or fourteen Paces he makes a
large Turn, and lowering himfelf, as it were infenfibly, till he comes to
skim the Waters where the Chace is given; in palling he takes up the little
Fiihj either with his Bill :or Talons.
He has great red Gills.under his Throat, like our Englijh Cocks, which
do not appear but in the old ones, the Females have none; they are whiter
than the Males, efpecially under the Belly: Thefe Birds for a long time
made a little Ifland their Habitation, where all the Birds of that Species
thereabouts come to rooft at Nights, and build in their proper Seafon.
This little Ifland was called the IJle of Frigats, and bears the Name
to this Day.