502 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



According to Dampier, in the isle of Aves they breed on 

 trees, though in other places they nestle on the ground, and 

 always associate in numbers in the same place. They lay 

 one or two eggs ; and the young continue for a long time 

 covered for the most part with a very soft and white down. 

 They abound on rocky islets off the coast of Cayenne, and 

 along the shores of New Spain and Carracca, as well as in 

 Brazil and on the Bahama islands, where they are said to 

 breed almost every month in the year. The flesh is black 

 and unsavory ; yet sailors frequently make a meal of it. In 

 summer they are not uncommon on the coasts of the South- 

 ern States. 



The length of the Booby is about 2 feet 5 inches ; the bill 4^ 

 inches ; the tail about 10. The orbits, and base of the bill yellow, 

 its point brown. Legs straw colored. The belly white, all the rest 

 of the plumage is ashy-brown. 



TROPIC-BIRDS. (Phaeton, Li?in.) 



In these the bill is as long as the head, hard, much compressed, 

 convex above, straight and acute at the tip ; mandibles equal ; the 

 upper slightly curved towards the point, the margins dilated, sharp 

 at the base and obliquely serrulated. Nostrils basal, concave, nar- 

 row, and pervious. Tongue very short. Head and throat wholly 

 feathered. Feet very short ; tarsi naked, toes 4, all connected to- 

 gether by membranes ; hind one a third the length of the middle 

 one : webs full and entire : nails moderately curved, acute, the inner 

 edge of the middle one entire. Wings long ; the 1st primary longest. 

 Tail short, composed of 12 or 14 feathers, and with the middle pair 

 very narrow, and extremely long. 



The female similar in plumage with the male, but much smaller. 

 The young differ much from the adult, and often change their ap- 

 pearance. They moult twice in the year. The plumage is thick 

 and close, and its color o-enerallv white. 



