288 Bulletin of the British 



apricot-coloured form had been figured by Reiclienbacli 

 [Syst. Av. pL 30. fig. 852 (1850)] under' the name of 

 P. flavirostris, Brandt, and was subsequently described by 

 Lawrence [Ann. Lye. N. York, vii. p. 142 (1862)], from 

 a skin of unknown origin, as a distinct species. In 1887 

 Mr. J. J. Lister visited Christmas Island .and collected 

 there examples of this " fine golden-pink " Boatswain- 

 Bird, which were entered in his list (/. c.) under the name 

 of P. flavirostris. P. flavo-aurantius exactly resembled the 

 latter species in the arrangement of the black markings on 

 the plumage, but difi'ered in having the whole of the light 

 parts of a fine orange-salmon or apricot-colour. This tint 

 did not fade after death, nor did it seem due to extraneous 

 colouring-mattev. All the examples of this bird obtained 

 and seen at Christmas Island were similarly coloured, and 

 Mr. Grant considered P. flavo-aurantius, Lawr , a well- 

 marked subspecies of P. flavirostris, Brandt, with which it 

 had hitherto been regarded as synonymous. 



Mr. Grant also pointed out that, after comparing large 

 series of skins of Phaethon, he found that typical examples of 

 P. flavirostris, Brandt, from Ascension, Reunion, Seychelles, 

 Pelew Islands, &c., differed constantly from the Yellow- 

 billed Boatswain-Bird met with at Bermuda aud the West 

 Indies, and he proposed to distinguish the birds from the 

 latter localities under the name of 



PHAilTHON AMERICANUS, Sp. n. 



Adult male and female. Similar to P. flavirostris, Brandt, 

 but differing constantly in the following points : — the black 

 on the outer web of the first primary extending to within half 

 an inch of the extremity, on the second and fourth quills 

 reaching almost to the tip, while the third quill had the outer 

 web entirely black. Bill entirely yellow, except above the 

 nasal opening. 



Range. East and south-east coasts of North America, 

 from Bermuda to the West Indies. 



