PHAETHONTID^ — THE TROPIC BIRDS — PHAETHON. 



185 



Family PHAETHONTID^E. — The Tropic Birds. 



Char. Bill conical, much compressed, tlie maxillary toraium exceedingly con- 

 ciut" in the middle portion, descending, convex, and bulging outward at the base ; 

 ciilnien gently curved; nostrils very distinct, linear; head normally feathered. 

 I'riiuaries much elongated in proportion to the secondaries ; tail very short, gradu- 

 ated, the central pair of rectrices linear and excessively elongated (longer than the 

 wing) in the adult. Lateral toes nearly equal (outer longest), and but little shorter 

 than the middle. Plumage very compact, satiny. Color chiefly white. 



This family is composed of the single genus Pha'ethon, of tropicopolitan range, 

 and represented in America by two of the three known species. 



Genus PHAETHON, Linn^us. 



Lcpturus, Bkiss. Oni. VI. 1760, p. 479. 



Phiieflioii, LisN. S. N. eil. 10, I. 1758, 134; ed. 12, I. 1766, 219 {type, P. aihcrcus, Linn.). 



Lawii. ill Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 885. 

 " Tropkojihihis, Leach," Stepii. Gen. Zool. XIII. i. 1826, 124. 

 Phoenicurus, BoNAt. Consp. II. 1857, 183 (type, Phaeton phoenkuros, Gmkl.). 



P. flavirostris. 



CiiAU. Same as those of tho ftimily. 



Till! three known species of this genus are very well marked, and may be easily distinguished 

 liy tlie following characters : — 



4t Elongated middle rectrices, with their webs very much broader than the mmlerately rigid 

 shaft. 



1. P. flavirostris. Bill yellow ; middle tail-feathers pinkish, with black shafts ; wing about 



1 1 .00 inches ; culmcn 2.00 or less. Hah, Intertropical seas, north to Florida. 



2. P. aethereuB. Bill deep coral red ; middle tail-feathers pure white, with white shafts ; 



wing about 12.00 inches ; culmen about 2.50. Hah. Intertropical seas, north to Lower 

 California. 

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