204 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



ORDER STEGANOPODES. 



TOTIPALMATE SwniMERS. 



Family PIIAETHONTID.E. Tropic Birds. 

 Genus PHAETHON Linn. 



..^^ 



PHAETHON FLAVIR0STRI5 Brandt. 

 YelIow=billed Tropic Bird. 



Adult : l>ill 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 feather.s, 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 I^ahama Islands, and has been recorded from Florida. 



