430 ANSERES, PELECANID^E. 



TROPIC BIRD.* 



Phaeton cethereus. LINN. 



Aud. pi. 262. 



THE bird which Robinson has described (MSS. ii. 

 124,) in the terms quoted below, is doubtless to be 

 referred to this species, though from the shortness of 

 the tail-feathers, and the colour of the beak and feet, 

 I presume it to have been an immature specimen. 

 He describes its habits as resembling those of the 

 Terns : it was brought to him alive, having been 

 knocked off a fish-pot-buoy; he kept it almost a 

 week, feeding it with the offal of fish, which it ate 

 greedily. When it attempted to walk, it spread 

 its wings, and waddled along with much difficulty, 

 which arose not only from the backward position 

 of its legs, but also from their shortness and weak- 

 ness. Sometimes it made a chattering noise, like 

 the Belted Kingfisher, and it had another cry, not 

 unlike that of a Gull. It would bite, upon occa- 



* Length 15 inches, expanse 32, flexure 10, beak 3, tail of 14 fea- 

 thers, graduated, the middle pair 5 inches, the outmost 3, middle toe 1^_ 

 Beak white, or very pale yellow ; feet white ; claws black. General 

 plumage white, very silky, especially about the head : bases of crown 

 feathers black. Upper neck, back, rump, and wing-coverts marked with 

 cross, black, arcuated bars. Beneath each eye two black lines, which 

 passing over the eye, meet at the back of the head. Tail, shafts and 

 tips black. Five first quills have the outer edges and shafts black ; the 

 remaining primaries and secondaries, bluish ; tertiaries chiefly black, 

 with white edges, forming a black spot in each wing. Feet far behind." 

 (Rob. abridged.) 



