182 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



met with many liunJreds of miles from any shore. Their flight is describoi] l)y Pro- 

 fessor Newton as not resembling that of any sea-bird with whieh he is acquainted, its 

 cliief j)ecii]i:irity consisting in the regular and rather rapid strokes of the wing, with- 

 out any intermission, as far as he could see ; and Mr. C. B. Cory expressly saj-s that it 

 " does not at all resemble the long, easy movement.s of the gulls, but is hurried and 

 rapiil, more resembling that of a duck." They usually breed in cracks of the cliffs, 

 on tlie ledges of rocks, or imder overhanging boulders, but build no nest. The single 

 egg, rather large and of a reddish-brown color, with fine markings, is said to be good 

 eating, and in some localities large quantities are gathered for food ; hence the name 



Flo. 88. — Phatlhnn itlhensiu, rcii-liilKii ii.i.i. ■•.mi. 



* egg-bird ' in the Bahamas. Also the long and stiff central tail-feathers are collected, 

 especially those of Phaethon rithricaiufa, in which they arc red, in beautiful contrast 

 to the rest of the jiluinagc Mr. Kdwanl Xcwton describes the visit to a breeding- 

 place of this 8]i<'cies on Kound Island, a sni;ill islet close by JIauritius, as follows : 

 " Here the red-tailed tropic-bird breeds in very large numbers. They are the tamest 

 birds I ever saw, and do not know what fear is. They never attempt to leave their 

 single egg or nestling at one's ap])roacli, but merely stick out their feathers and scream, 

 pecking at one's legs with their beaks. It is the fashion on the island for visitors to 

 remove the old binl from its egg by a slight shove, and then ])lacing the foot gently 



