NATATORES. 501 



The female is similar to tlic male, but browner ; is destitute 

 of the coloured pluuies on the back ; has some of the wing- 

 coverts and tertiaries edged with light brown, forming a mark 

 along the wing ; a collar at the back of the neck ; the breast 

 and upper part of the flanks white, washed with rufous. 



A nestling bird in my collection is clothed in white down, 

 except on the back and scapularies, where the dark brown 

 coloured and perfect feathers have just been assumed. 



Genus PHAE TON, L'mnaus. 



Of the little group known as Tropic-birds, Bonaparte 

 enumerates three species, which he has placed in as many 

 genera, namely, Phaeton, Lepturus; and Phceniciirus. Of 

 these, the last is the only one comprised in the avifauna of 

 Australia. I shall not, however, adopt this name. 



Sp. GOO. PHAETON PHCENICURUS, Gmelin. 



Red-tailed Tropic-bird. 



Phaeton phceniciirus, Gmel. Edit, of Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 583. 



rubricauda, Bodd. 



eruhescens, Banks's Drawings, No. 31. 



Paille-en-queue a brins I'ouges, Buff. Hist, des Ois., torn. viii. p. 357. 



de risk de France, Buff. PI. Enl., 979. 



Red-tailed Tropic-bird, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. vi. p. 619, pi. 105. 

 New Holland Tropic-bird, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. x. p. 448. 



Phaeton phcenicurns, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vii. pi. 73. 



This bird is very generally dispersed over the temperate 

 and warmer latitudes of the Indian Ocean and the South 

 Seas, where it often hovers round ships, and occasionally 

 alights on their rigging. During the months of August and 

 September it retires to various islands for the purpose of 

 breeding ; among other places selected for the performance 

 of this duty are Norfolk Island off the east coast of Australia, 



