at the point; colour dufky ; from the bafe a reddifli dark-coloured
fkin fpreads on each fide of the head, taking in the eyes : from
the under mandible hangs a large membranaceous bag attached
fome way down the throat, as in the Pelican, and applied to the
fame ufes j the colour of this a fine deep red, fprinkled on the
fides with a few fcattered feathers: the whole plumage is brown-
ilh black, except the wing coverts, which have a rufous tinge :
the tail is long, and much forked ; the outer feathers eighteen
inches or more in length; the middle ones from feven to eight:
the legs are fmall, all the toes webbed together, and the webs
deeply indented; the colour of them dufky red.
The female differs in wanting the membranaceous pouch under
the chin; and in having the belly white: in other things is
greatly like the male.
The Frigate Pelican, or Man of War Bird*, as it is by fome
called, is chiefly, if not wholly, met with between the tropics, and
ever out at fea, being only feen on the wing. It is ufual with other
birds, when fatigued with flying, to reft themfelves on the furfacc
of the water ; but nature, from the- exceeding length of wing
ordained to .this, has made the rifing therefrom utterly impof-
fible, at leaft writers not only fo inform us, but every one whom
we have»talked with avers the fame; though perhaps this is no
defeft of nature, as it fcarcely feems to require much reft ; at leaft,
from the length of wing, and its apparent eafy gliding motion
(much like that of the Kite) it appears capable of fuftaining
* It is alio called Tailleur, or fay lor, by the French, from the motion of its
tail reprefenting a pair of Jhears when opened ; and when on the wing it opens
and fhuts them frequently, in the manner of uiing that inftrument.—-C///<?tf,
Voy. ii. p. 304. .
very
very long flights ; for it is often feen above an hundred *, and
not unfrequently above two hundred ft leagues from land. It has
indeed been known to fettle on the mails offhips; but this is
not a frequent circumftance, though it will often approach near,
and hover about the top-maft flag ft. Sometimes it foars fo high
in the air as to be fcarcely vifible, yet at other times approaches
the furface of the fea, where, hovering at fome diftance, the moment
it fpies a fifh, it darts down on it with the utmoft rapidity,
and feldom without fuccefs, flying upwards again as quick as it
defeended i|, It is alfo feen toattack Gulls and other birds which
have caught a fijh, when it obliges them to difgorge it, and they
take care to feize it before it falls into the water. Is an enemy
to the Flying Fijh; for, on their being attacked beneath by the
Dolphin, and other voracious fifts, to efcape their jaws thefe femi-
volatiles leap out of the water in clufters, making ufe of their long
fins as wings to buoy them up in the air, which they are enabled
to do fo long as they remain wet; but the moment they become
dry are ufelefs, and drop into their proper element again : during
their flight the Frigate darts in among the fhoal, and feizes one or
two at leaft. Thefe birds know the exaft place where the fijh
are to rift, from the bubbling of the water, which direfts them
to the fpot § ; in this they are accompanied by Gulls and other
birds, who aft in concert with them.
Thefe birds, though not uncommon every where within the
* Forß. Voy. i. p. 47.— Id. Obf. p. 211.
•f- Hiß. Barbad. p. 86.— As far as four hundred. Pernetty.
X Cook’s laß Voy. i. p. 81.
|| Dumpier.— He obferves^ that they do not take their prey in the bill.
$ Hiß, Barbad. p. 86.
tropics,