iS 
PHAETON. 
PHAETON, auctorum. 
Leprurus, Brisson. 
Priancus, Klein. 
CHARACTER GENERICUS. 
Rostrum cultratum, compressum, acuminatum ; fauce pone 
rostrum hiante: nares oblonge. 
Cauda cuneiformis ; rectricibus duabus intermediis longis- 
simis. 
Pedes tetradactyli, palmati; digitis omnibus connexis. 
TROPIC-BIRD. 
Beak knife-shaped, compressed, acuminate; the mouth 
gaping behind the beak : nostrils oblong. 
Tail wedge-shaped; the two intermediate quills very long. 
Legs with four toes, palmated ; all the toes connected. 
The tropic-birds inhabit the ocean about the tropics, 
living on fishes. They never approach the shore excepting 
in the breeding season, or when compelled to do so by 
long and continued storms. 
