2052 THE CORMORANT GROUP 



white, and the two long tail feathers white. The beak is coral red, the eye brown, 

 the leg yellow, and the web and toes black. In younger birds the feathers of the 

 back have black bands at the tips; while in a still younger stage the middle tail 

 feathers are not elongated, and the beak is brown. The yellow-beaked tropic bird 

 (P. flavirostris} is distinguished by its yellow beak, and the red middle tail feathers. 

 Tropic birds often follow in the wake of vessels for long distances, and display 

 great boldness. During the breeding season they frequent the Bermuda and Pa- 

 cific islands in great numbers, generally breeding in companies, and making their 

 nests in holes in the rocks. 



The writer once had the good fortune to see a living specimen of the white- 

 tailed tropic bird, which came on board the R.M.S. Magdalena, in the South Atlan- 

 tic on September 5, 1893, during the night, in an apparently exhausted condition. 

 After a night's rest it recovered, and flew away on being liberated. The pearly 

 lustre of the lovely grebe-like plumage of the head and neck was particularly strik- 

 ing, and the beauty of the two long tail feathers of this child of the ocean excited 

 the admiration of all the beholders. 



