(30 TROPIC BIRD. 



Jdhn R. Beath of Philadelphia, informs me that he mounted a specimen of the Frigate 

 Bird whicli was taken at Cape May Court House, in the spring of 1877. It is difficult fo 

 find words which will convey an idea of the magnificent flight of these fine birds, but a 

 glance at the sternum as described under Family heading, will give some impression of the 

 bony frame-work which is intended to support the birds in their untiring journey through 

 the air; and thus armed against the forces of nature, nothing can daunt thom. I have seen 

 them, when the wind blew high, circling with motionless wings and calmly breasting the 

 rising gale. The storm bursts and the waves are lashed into fury by the raging hurricane; 

 great trees on the neighboring land, which have stood the blasts of a hundi'cd years, totter 

 and fall; while the spray flies in clouds from the now mountainous breakers; even then, 

 when all else bows to the relentles Storm King, tlie noble Frigate Bird does not deign to 

 alight, but with a few strokes of his strong pinions, moves majestically into the very teeth 

 of the driving elements, or plunging downward, will sail as grandly above the tempestuous 

 billows, as the Swallow skims over the surface of the summer lake, showing that in the 

 Man-of-war Bird, the power of flight is developed in the highest degree. 



FAMILY VI. PIIiETONID^. THE TROPIC BIRDS. 



Bill, about equal in length to head, strong, and pointed at tij>. Gulur aac, absent. 

 Sternum, longer than ivide. Keel, projecting forward considerably. 



The oesophagus is wide and somewhat dilated. Proventriculus, large with glands ur 

 ranged in a zonular band. Stomach, small and not muscular. Ca^ca, very small. Ster- 

 num, arched, with the central posterior margin concave. Keel, high. Furcula, short and 

 lying nearly perpendicularly. Head, not crested. Legs and neck, very short. 



GENUS I. PIIiETON. TIIK LONU-TAILED TROl'IO BIRDS. 

 Gen. Cii. Resemble those given under Family heading. Tail, wedge -shajjcd, with central leutlicrs excessively elon- 

 gated, tseses, .similar. There is but one species within our limits. 



PHOTON FLAVIROSTRIS. 

 Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. 



Pktr.lonjliwirustris But., Bull, Sc. Acad. Imp. St. Pet. I, 18:!7, ;il'.). 

 DESCRIPTION. 

 Sr. Cli. Funu, slender. Size, medium. Color. Adult. White throughout with a satiny glos--, tinged witli pale 

 salmon which becomes deeper on elongated central tail feathers, the shafts of which are black. Curved i)atch on side of 

 head, one on scapulavies and secondaries, iia.ssing backward in a line along wing coverts, and spot near teraiinal portion of 

 primaries, iiur])lish-hiack. The feathers of Hanks are centrally streaked with dusky. Bill, tarsi and hasc of feet, orange, 

 remainder of latter, black, iris, brown. Vouny. Similar hut paler, and the ceiitral tail feathers are mt as long. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 Known by the elongated central tail fcatheivi and orange l)i;i. Constantly rcNident on tiie Bermud.i and Bahama Is- 

 lands. Rare on the Florida coast. Accidental in the Northern Atlantic States. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens. Length, 3(i-75; .stretch, 37-0(1; wing, 11-25; tail, l!J-25; bill, 2-10; tarsus, lOH. 

 Longest .specimen, 3-2-00; greatest extent of wing, 38-00; longest wing, 1 1-50; tail, 21-00; bill, 2-25; tarsus, 1-25. Shortest 

 ^ specimen, •21)-50; smidlest extent of wing, 30-00; shortest; wing, IPOO; tail, 18-50; bill, 2-00; tarsus, -00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Eijijs, usually jilaced in holes of rocks, one in number, rather oval in form, chalky-white in color, usually very thickly 

 spotted with reddish-chocolate of varying shades. Dimensions from 1-50x2-15 to l(i0x2-25. 



HABITS. 

 Some years ago, when sailing along the Gulf of Mexico, not f;ir from the Florida Keys, 

 in little steamer, early in November, I observed :i Tropic Bird flying high in ;tir. Tlie 

 bird wtis pursuing the same course that we were and remained in sight for several hoiir. 



