. Birds. Birds. fregatidjE. 337 Family FREGATIDiE. This family is formed by a single genus contaiuing the Frigate- birds—rather large dark-coloured oceanic birds, which far '-s all other Steganopodes in expanse of wing, and greiitly resemble Accipitrine birds in their mode of flight. Although, as in other families of the present order, all four toes are united by a mem- brane, the web is much less developed than in the allied fonns. The tarsus is broad and very short. Purcula anchylosed to keel of sternum ; nostrils not pervious. Cervical vertebrae 15 ; syringeal muscles present; ambien
. Birds. Birds. fregatidjE. 337 Family FREGATIDiE. This family is formed by a single genus contaiuing the Frigate- birds—rather large dark-coloured oceanic birds, which far '-s all other Steganopodes in expanse of wing, and greiitly resemble Accipitrine birds in their mode of flight. Although, as in other families of the present order, all four toes are united by a mem- brane, the web is much less developed than in the allied fonns. The tarsus is broad and very short. Purcula anchylosed to keel of sternum ; nostrils not pervious. Cervical vertebrae 15 ; syringeal muscles present; ambiens and femoro-caudal developed, the other characteristic thigh-muscles wanting. Frigate-birds breed on oceanic islands. The nest of sticks is placed on rocks or on bushes, and a single white egg is laid. Genus PREG-ATA, Biisson, 1760. Bill long, straight, and' strongly hooked at the end, both man- dibles being curved downward at the tip; culmen flattened, lateral grooves deep, bifurcating at the dertrum or nail, and the lower branch terminating in a notch in the margin; nostrils in the groove, basal and linear. A large naked gular pouch. Wings very long and pointed ; 1st quill considerably the longest. Tail of 12 feathers, deeply forked. Tarsus very short, feathered; middle toe longest; web between toes deeply emarginate; claws long, curved, that of middle toe pectinated inside. Two or three species are known and range throughout tropical seas; two have been taken within Indian limits. Key to the Species. a. Bill from g-ape about 5 inches F. aquila, p. 3-38. b. Bill from gape about 375 inches F. ariel, p. Fig. 77.—Head of F. ariel. \. Frigate or Man-o'-war Birds are well known to seamen from their remarkably powerful flight, and from the use they niake of their speed in pursuing Ganuets, Gulls, and Terns in order to rob them of their prey. The Frigate-birds Kve by pii-acy in tropical seas, just as the Skuas do in colder latitudes; but the species oi Frtgata do not cou
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