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KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



ORDER STEGANOPODES. 



TOTIPALMATE SwiMMERS. 



Family PIIAETHONTID.E. Tropic Birds. 

 Genus PHAETHON Linx. 



PHAETHON FLAVIR0STRI5 Brandt. 

 VelIow=billed Tropic Bird. 



Adult : liill 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. 



