204 KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 
ORDER STEGANOPODES. 
TOTIPALMATE SWIMMERS. 
Famiry PHAETHONTID. Tropic Birps. 
Genus PHAETHON Linn. 
PHAETHON FLAVIROSTRIS Brandt. 
Yellow=billed Tropic Bird. 
Adult: Bill pale orange yellow; general plumage white, sometimes slightly rose-tinted, most 
of the primaries showing much black; a black streak passing through the eye; some of the 
wing coverts and shafts of the tail feathers black; tail elongated into two very long feathers, 
which are slightly reddened ; tarsus bluish; iris black ; webs and toes black. 
Length, including tail feathers, 31.50; Wing, 11; Tail, 21; Tarsus, .90; Bill, 2. 
The Yellow-billed Tropic Bird is of rare occurrence on our shores, but is 
common in the Bahama Islands, and has been recorded from Florida. 
