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Show 146 ZOOLOGY OF TilE VOYAGE OF TilE BEAGLE. FREOA'fA AQUILA. Cuv. Pelecanus Aquilus, Linn. I had an opportunity, at the Galapagos Archipelago, of watching, on several occasions, the habits of this bird, which are very interesting in relation to its peculiar structure. The Frigate bird, when it se~s any object on the surface. of the water, descends from a great height, in an inclmed plane, head foremost, wtth the swiftness of an arrow; and at the instant of seizing with its long beak and outstretched neck, the floating morsel, it turns upwards, with extraordinary dexterity, by the aid of its forked tail, and long, powerful wings. It never touches the water with its wings, or even with its feet ; indeed I have never heard of one having been seen on the surface of the sea; and it appears that the deeply indented web between its toes is of no more use to it, than are the shrivelled wings beneath the wing-cases of some coleopterous beetles. The Frigate bird has a noble appearance when seen soaring in a flock at a stupendous height (at which time it merits the name of the Condor of the ocean), or when . many together are dashing, in complicated evolutions, but with the most admirable skill, at the same floating object. They seem to scorn to take their food quietly, for between each descent they raise themselves on high, and descend again with a swift and true aim. If the object (such as offal thrown overboard) sink more than six or eight inches beneath the surface, it is lost to the Frigate bird. I was informed at Ascension, that when the little turtles break through their shells, and run to the water's edge, these birds attend in numbers, and pick up the little animals (being thus very injurious to the turtle fishery) off the sand, in the same manner as .they would from the sea. APPEND I X. Anatomical description of Serpopltaga alhocoronata, Furnarius cunicularius, Uppu-certltia dumetoria~ Opetiorhyncltus vu]rraris 0 antarcticus 0 p t · o • · , . a agonzcus, Pteroptochos Tarnii, P. albicollis, Synallaxis maluroides, Pltytotoma rara, Trocltilus gigas, Tinocltorus rumicivnrus.• BY T. C. EYTON, EsQ., F.L.S., &c. SERPOPHAGA ALBOCORONATA. Gould. (Male.) Tongue pointed, furnished with a few short bristles at the sides near the base. Trachea with the s~me muscles as among the warblers generally. 1Esophagus slightly funnel-shaped ; proventriculus much expanded at its entrance into the gizzard, which is rounded, not very muscular, inner coat slightly hardened, smooth. Intestine of moderate size, furnished with two rudimentary cooca. Length of <:esophagus, i~cludlng proventriculus ••.. . .• ,lnc~ct I of gizzard . .. .. • • . .. • .. • • . .. .. .. .. . . .. . . . . B Breadth of ditto • • • • • . • • . . . • • . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . is Int~ ber Length of Intestine from gizzard to cloaca . . . . . . . . . . . . 3i from cmca to cloaca .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . • .. :1! The skeleton of this bird is precisely tl1at of the smaller and weaker species of Laniadoo. II net Length of sternum .. , • • • • . . . • • • • . • • . • • . . . . . . . . • . . . 5 Breadth anteriorly .. . • .. .. .. . • .. .. . . • . • . .. . . • .. • . . 3 posteriorly ........... , .. .. .. • .. .. . . . .. . . 4! Width of fissures............ .. ..... .. ............. 1 Depth of ditto . • • . • . • . . . . • • . • • . • • • • • • . . • . . • • . . . • li Depth of keel •....•••• , • • • • • . . . . . . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . 2 Length of pelvis . . . . • . . . . . . • • . . . . . • • . . • . • • . . . . . • . . 5! Width anteriorly •••.• , • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2j posteriorly . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . • • . . . • • . 6! Length from occiput to point of bill . ........... .. .. 12 Breadth of head . • . • . • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5~ Length Clf coracoids . . . . . . . • . . . . • • . . . . . . • • . . . • • • • • -ij No of cervical vertebrm.. .. .. .. .. .. • . . . .. . . . .. • • . .. 11 dorsal tlltto . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . • 7 sacral ditto ........ ". . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 0 caudal ditto . • • . . • • • • • . • • . . • • . . . . . • . . . . . • . . . 6 Total ........ .. .. 33 No. of false ribs ................... .... .. .... . .. 1 1! true ditto . • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . • . • • • . . . . • • . . . . . 5 Total .. .. .. .. .. 7 * I am much indebted to Mr. Eyton for these observations, which greatly add to the value of the previous descriptions |
