286 THE TROPIC BIRD. 



a man, a mountain, or a mud-flat? Is "Black 

 Warrior" a negro of pugnacious propensities? 



Leaving, then, the advantages, or disadvantages, 

 of this peculiar nomenclature to be discussed by 

 doctors learned in ornithology, I will advert to times 

 gone by, and I will remark, that Linnaeus, the 

 Swede, at all events, has been happy in the name 

 which he has given to one of his birds ; and this is 

 the tropic bird. He has called it Phaeton, no doubt, 

 whatever, because it is chiefly to be found in that 

 region, where old Apollo's son cut so conspicuous 

 a figure on his father's coach-box. All the world 

 has heard of Phaeton, and of the manner in which 

 he unfortunately broke down in his first and last 

 attempt at four-in-hand. 



Linnaeus, then, did well in giving the name of 

 Phaeton to the tropic bird ; and I should not wish 

 to see the name exchanged for that of the first doc- 

 tor, duke, or draper, of these our latter days. 



Whilst inspecting the bird Phaeton, which may 

 be found in some of our museums, full many a 

 careful parent may say to his aspiring heir, Take 

 warning, my lad, in time, and shun all jockies and 

 jarvies as thou wouldst shun a pestilence. " Con- 

 siliis, non curribus utere nostris." The turf-boys 

 will get the last penny out of thy pocket, and laugh 

 thee to scorn ; and thou wilt be obliged to leave 

 thy family-place, and go to foreign parts, there to 

 vegetate on short allowance. As Phaeton and his 

 rueful adventures have been immortalised by the 

 Roman poet, whose works will be read by all nations 

 to the end of time, the name of Phaeton, which 



