182 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



met with many hundreds of miles from any shore. Their flight is described by Pro- 

 fessor Newton as not resembling that of any sea-bird with which he is acquainted, its 

 chief peculiarity consisting in the regular and rather rapid strokes of the wing, with- 

 out any intermission, as far as he could see ; and Mr. C. B. Cory expressly says that it 

 " does not at all resemble the long, easy movements of the gulls, but is hurried and 

 rapid, more resembling that of a duck." They usually breed in cracks of the cliffs, 

 on the ledges of rocks, or under overhanging boulders, but build no nest. The single 

 egg, rather large and of a reddish-brown color, with fine markings, is said to be good 

 eating, and in some localities large quantities are gathered for food ; hence the name 



FIG. 88. Phdethnn cethereus, red-billed tropic-bird. 



' egg-bird ' in the Bahamas. Also the long and stiff central tail-feathers are collected, 

 especially those of Phaethon rubrlcauda, in which they are red, in beautiful contrast 

 to the rest of the plumage. Mr. Edward Newton describes the visit to a breeding- 

 place of this species on Round Island, a small islet close by Mauritius, as follows : 

 " Here the red-tailed tropic-bird breeds in very large numbers. They are the tamest 

 birds I ever saw, and do not know what fear is. They never attempt to leave their 

 single egg or nestling at one's approach, but merely stick out their feathers and scream, 

 pecking at one's legs with their beaks. It is the fashion on the island for visitors to 

 remove the old bird from its egg by a slight shove, and then placing the foot gently 



