THE YELLOW-BILLED TROPIC BIRD. 



The people who make a study 

 of birds say that I look like a 

 large Tern, and that my habits 

 are like his. 



I don'^" know whether that is 

 so, I am sure, for I have no 

 acquaintance with that bird, but 

 you little folks can turn to your 

 Maix'li number of Birds and see 

 for yourselves if it is true. 



For my part, I think I am the 

 prettier of the two on account of 

 my long, willowy tail feathers. 

 They add greatly, it is said, to 

 the grace and beauty of my 

 appearance when on the wing. 

 Then, the color of my coat is 

 much more beautiful than his, I 

 think, don't you think so, too? 



We are not so common as the 



Terns, either, for they are very 



* numerous. There are only three 



species of our family, so we 



consider ourselves quite distinct. 



What are we noted for? 



Well, principally for our long 

 distance flights across the sea, 

 elegant and airy, as the writers 

 say of us. Maybe that is the 

 reason they call us the. Phaeton 

 sometimes. 



Do we go north in the summer 

 as so many other birds do ? 



Ugh! You make me shudder. 

 No, indeed! We never go 

 farther north than Florida. Our 

 home, or where we build our 

 nests, is in the tropical and sub- 

 tropical regions, wdiere the 

 weather is very warm, you 

 know. 



We are great wanderers and 

 build our nests on islands, way 

 out in the ocean many thousands 

 of miles apart. 



In trees? 



Oh, no, but in any hole we see 

 in the face of a great rock or 

 cliff, and sometimes right on the 

 top of a rock. 



How many eggs? 



Only one. That is the reason, 

 you see, that our family remains 

 small. 



Sing? 



Oh, my, no! We are not sing- 

 ing birds. We have a call-note, 

 though harsh and gutteral, 

 which sounds like tip, tip, tip. 



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