90 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
shaped bars of black, or dark brown: the tail is rounded, 
and the elongated feathers of the centre do not appear for 
some time. The following woodcut represents a young 
phaeton in the unfledged state. 


To give an idea of the number of these tropic birds, 
-which breed along the south shore of Gibbs’ Hill, and 
Somerset, I have only to remark that in 1847, bemg in 
want of specimens for some friends, I sent word to the 
sergeant’s party, stationed at the Gibbs’ Hull telegraph, 
(which is close to the light-house,) that I would give a 
shillmg each for a few of those birds in full and perfect 
plumage. I soon received a message in reply, requesting 
me to go up and select from a number which had been 
captured. On my arrival at the station, I found between 
forty and fifty of these birds confined in a small room, the 
whole of which, with a number of eggs, had been taken im 
