TROPIC BIRDS. 91 



Under the name of " Stormy Petrel," or " Mother Carey's Chicken," 

 they are familiar to most people who have made sea voyages. On 

 tireless wing they follow in the track of a ship, coursing ceaselessly 

 back and forth, now beneath the stern, now hovering over the foam- 

 flecked wake, reminding one of white-rumped Martins in their easy, 

 graceful flight. If food be thrown overboard, they are at once attracted 

 to it, and soon are left far behind, a little group of black, fluttering 

 forms on the surface of the ocean. The meal disposed of, a few rapid 

 wing-beats bring them to us, and again they resume their patient beat- 

 ing to and fro. 



The White-bellied Petrel {110. Cymodroma grallaria) is a tropical 

 species which has been taken once in North America — at St. Marks, Florida. 



The WiiiTE-FAOED Petrel {111. Pelagodroma marina) inhabits the South 

 Atlantic and southern seas. It is of casual occurrence olf the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts. It may be distinguished from any of our small Petrels by its white 

 under parts. 



ORDER STEGANOPODES. TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. 

 Family Phaethontid^. Tropic Birds. 



The three species composing this small but distinct family are 

 found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. 

 They are littoral rather than pelagic, but make long journeys across 

 the open sea. Their flight when migrating is strong, rapid, and direct. 

 In feeding, they course over the water, beating back and forth at a 

 height of about forty feet. Their long, willowy tail-feathers add 

 greatly to the grace and beauty of their appearance when on the wing. 



112. Phaethon flavirostris Brandt. Yellow-billed Tropic 

 Bird (see Fig. 11). Ad. — White; a mark before and through the eye; outer 

 web of primaries, lesser wing-coverts, and tertials jDlack ; flanks streaked with 

 slate ; bill yellow ; tail tinged with salmon, shafts of the feathers black. W., 

 10-75; T., 19-00; B., 2-00. 



Range. — Tropical coasts ; Atlantic coasts of tropical America, West Indies, 

 Bahamas, Bermudas ; casual in Florida and accidental in western New York 

 and Nova Scotia. 



This species breeds abundantly in the limestone cliffs of the Ber- 

 mudas, but is of rare and probably accidental occurrence on our coasts. 



The Ked-billed Tropic Bird {113. PhaUlion mthereus) resembles the 

 preceding species, hut has the bill red and the upper parts finely barred with 

 black. Its range in the Atlantic is more southern than that of the Yellow- 

 billed Tropic Bird, and in eastern North America it is accidental. The only 

 record of its occurrence is off the Newfoundland Banks. 



