74 NORTH AMKIilC.iy BIIiDS. 



Genus PHAETHON Linx^us. (Page 73, pi. XYIIL, fig. 1.) 

 S})ecics. 



Common Characters. — Plumage very compact, satiny; color white (sometimes 

 tinged with pink or salmon-color), varied with blackish on U])per parts; bill red, 

 orange, or 3-cllow in adults ; tarsi and base of toes yellowish, rest of feet black. Kest 

 a cavitv among rocks on sea-shore of oceanic islands. Egg ovate, dilute claret- 

 brown or whitish speckled, sprinkled, spotted, or blotched with deep claret-brown. 



a\ Elongated middle tail-feathers with their webs very much broader than the 

 moderately rigid shaft, 

 i'. Bill j-ellow or orange. Adult: lengthened tail-leathers pinkish or salmon- 

 colored, with black shafts ; no black bars on U])per parts, the black being 

 in form of patches on scapulars, etc. Young : Upper parts irregularly 

 bari-ed with black ; tail-feathers marked with a black spot near the end, 

 the middle pair not elongated. Length (of adult, including lengthened 

 tail-feathers) 25.00-32.00. wing about 11.00, elongated tail-feathers 20.00, 

 or less, culmen 2.25. Egg 2.21 X 1-54. Hab. Intertropical seas, chiefly 

 middle western Atlantic, esjiecially in vicinity of the Bermudas and 

 throughout West Indies, north to Florida; South Pacific (Samoau 

 Islands) ; accidental in western New York. 



112. P. flavirostris Brandt. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. 

 b'. Bill coral-red. Adult: Lengthened middle tail-feathers ])urc white, with 

 •white shafts (except toward base) ; upper parts irregularl}- barred with 

 blackish. Young: (Not seen.) Length (of adult with perfectlj' devel- 

 oped middle tail-feathers) 30.00-35.00, wing 11.75-12.50. elongated tail- 

 feathers 22.00, or less, culmen about 2.50. Egg 2.22 X 1-59. Hab. Coasts 

 of tropical America (both sides), north to Lower California and West 

 Indies ; casual at the Newfoundland Banks. 



113. P. aethereus Linn. Eed-billed Tropic Bird, 

 a'. Elongated middle tail-feathers with their webs much narrower than the very 

 rigid shaft. 



Bill red in life. Adult : Lengthened middle tail-feathers dull reddish, with 

 black shafts; wing 13.00, or more, culmen aliout 2.50. Hab. South 

 Pacific. 



P. rubricaudus Boini. Red-tailed Tropic Bird.' 



Family SULID^E.— The Gannets. (Page 73.) 

 Genera. 

 (Characters same as for the Family) Sula. (Page 75.) 



> Phaeton rubricauda BoDD., Tabl. P. E. 1783, 57 (« Buff. PI. Etil. 979). 



