288 THE TROPIC BIRD. 



falls gracefully under the coverts of the tail, which 

 coverts are of a similar colour. The shafts of the 

 tail feathers are black for two thirds of their length, 

 the remaining third being white. The tail itself is 

 cuneiform ; the two covert feathers of which mea- 

 sure nineteen inches in length. The bird, from the 

 t-ip of the beak to the extremity of the tail, is two 

 feet and a half long. Its legs are of an orange 

 colour. The webs of the feet down to the toes are 

 dark black, except that part which divides the first 

 toe from the small one ; it being of the same colour 

 as the legs. 



I have been minute in describing this marine 

 wanderer, as it is by no mea-ns common in our mu- 

 seums. Moreover, I take a more than ordinary 

 interest in the bird, on account of its singular habit 

 in going to such an astonishing distance from the 

 land. Its name, too, is very interesting to me, as it 

 brings into my mind pleasing recollections of that 

 Roman poet, who has left such sound instructions 

 for the welfare of young country squires, in Apollo's 

 warning to his rash and luckless son. 



On the coast of Cayenne, in South America, 

 there is a rock of enormous dimensions. It is 

 called Le Grand Connetable by the French ; and it 

 rises out of the ocean, at some distance from the 

 shore, like an aquatic giant of the first magnitude. 

 On its shelving protuberances are to be found the 

 nests of innumerable sea-fowl. Amongst these 

 winged explorers of the deep, it is said that the 

 tropic bird prepares for incubation and rears its 

 young. I say, "it is said," for I have not been 



