BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 263 
gun in my hand at the moment. One was shot, as recorded by Lien- 
tenant Denison, Royal Engineers, at Basden’s Pond, in the autumn of 
1875. . 
Family TACHYPETIDZ. 
Genus TACHYPETES, Vieil. 
164. Tachypetes aquilus, Vieil. Frigate Bird; Man-of-War Bird. 
Tachypetes aquilus, Vieil., Bp. 
Pelecanus aquilus, Linn., Nutt., Aud., Gamb. 
Attagen aquila, Gray. 
Length, 41; wing, 25; bill, 5.50; tail, 18; tarsus, .8. 
Hab.—Texas to Florida; California (Baird). 
Two were obtained at Ireland Island, on the 27th and 30th Sep- 
tember, 1848, respectively, by Colonel Wedderburn. One was shot 
by Captain Clutterbuck, of the fifty-sixth regiment, on September 30, 
1852, and another by Captain Tolcher, of the same regiment, on April 
2, 1854. Mr. Bartram has three specimens in his collection, obtained 
by himself. The latest of these he shot in October, 1876, when there was 
a very strong gale from the northwest, lasting some days, and a great 
influx of Terns, Frigate-Birds, Ospreys, &c. 
Family PHAETONIDZ. 
Genus PHAETON, Linn. 
165. Phaeton flavirostris, Brandt. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird. 
Lepturus candidus, Briss., Bp. 
Phaéton candidus, Gray. 
Phaéton ethereus, Bp., Nutt., Aud. 
Phaétion flavirostris, Brandt, Scl. 
Length, 30; wing, 11; tail, 18.50; bill, 2.05; tarsus, .9. 
Hab.—F lorida coast (Baird); Cuba; Bermuda. 
The geographical distribution of the three known species of Tropic- 
bird, P. ethereus, P. flavirostris, and P. rubricauda, seems not yet well 
defined, and no doubt their extensive wanderings will render any at- 
tempt at precise limitation extremely difficult, certainly until we are 
in possession of a larger series of observations than at present. P. flavi- 
rostris (the “ Boatswain-bird” or ‘“ Long-tail” of the Bermudas) is a 
familiar and abundant summer visitor to the islands, arriving at the end 
of February or beginning of March, and departing early in October. 
An occasional straggler is said to have been seen in Bermudian waters 
in winter time, presumably an early arrival, or backward young bird 
