204 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



FAM. PHAETHONTID^. 



TROPIC BIRDS. 



PHAETHON FLAVIROSTRIS. Brandt. 

 Tropic Bird. 



Local Name. — Egg Bird. 



Adtilt Male. — Bill, pale orange-yellow; general plumage, white, 

 sometimes slightly rosy-tinted ; most of primaries showing much 

 black, a streak passing through the eye ; some of the wing-coverts 

 and shafts of tail-feathers, black ; tail extended into two very long 

 feathers, which are reddened; tarsus, bluish; iris, black; webs and 

 toes, black. 



Length, including tail-feathers, 31.50, wing 11, tail 21, tarsus 

 .90, bill 2. 



This elegant and graceful species becomes abundant among the 

 Bahamas during the summer months. They are never found breed- 

 ing together in large communities, like the Anoiis sfolcdus or Sterna 

 fuligmosa, but appear to be more solitary in their liabits. 



Dr. Bryant, in writing of this species, says, " I visited three 

 breeding-places at Long Rock, near Exuma. They breed in holes 



