850 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



This Tropic bird is found throughout all the Indian and Australian 

 tropical regions, and is frequently seen in the Bay of Bengal, and 

 in the Indian Ocean. Its voice is said to resemble that of Sterna 

 Caspia. Sundevall, who notices this species (apparently) under 

 P. atherius, states that its flight is less rapid than that of the next 

 bird. It is much larger, but the central tail-feathers are not 

 nearly so long. 



997. Phaeton candidus, Brisson. 



Lepturus apud Brisson — Blyth, Cat. 1736— PI. Enl. 369 — P. 

 flavirostris, Brandt. 



The White Tropic-bird. 



Descr. — Plumage white ; a black mark in front of the eye, 

 extending through the eye along the sides of the head ; a black 

 band on the wings continued by the tertiaries and scapulars; 

 first primaries black externally, the tip white ; tail pure white, 

 the stem black. 



Bill yellow; feet dusky. Length 29 inches; wing 11 ; bill at 

 front 2 ; tarsus f ; middle toe If. 



This Tropic bird frequents tropical seas, and lias, it is stated, 

 been killed in the Bay of Bengal. It is said to breed on high 

 trees in the Mauritius and elsewhere. It is probably the species 

 referred by Sundevall, with doubt, to P. melanorliynchus (No. 102 

 of his list.) He states that "during flight they frequently turn the 

 head and look behind them ; they seem to be very inquisitive, 

 and often come near to examine the pennant. They would fly 

 round it for half an hour, and look at it from every side as 

 though they would bite at it, fly away, and return several times. 

 Occasionally they plunged straight down into the water to catch 

 flying-fish." 



Fam. SuLiDJi;, Bonap. 



Bill stout, straight ; wings long ; tail moderate, wedged ; feet 

 fully webbed ; size large. Of Oceanic habits. The plunging- 

 fishers comprise only one genus. 



