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KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



ORDER STEGANOPODES. 



TOTIPALMATE SwiMMERS. 



Family PHAETHONTID^. Tropic Birds. 

 Genus PHAETHON Linn. 



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PHAETHON FLAVIR05TRIS Brandt. 

 Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. 



Adult : Bill pale orange yellow; general plumage white, sometimes slightly rose-tinted, most 

 of the primaries showing much black ; a black streak passing through the eye ; some of the 

 wing coverts and shafts of the tail feathers black ; tail elongated into two very long feathers, 

 which are slightly reddened ; tarsus bluish ; iris black ; webs and toes black. 



Length, including tail feathers, 31.50; Wing, 11 ; Tail, 21 ; Tarsus, .90; Bill, 2. 

 The Yellow-billed Tropic Bird is of rare occurrence on our shores, but is 

 common in the Bahama Islands, and has been recorded from Florida. 



