foo TROPIC BIRD. 



crefcent over the eyes as in the others, but fomewhat abrupt in the 

 middle : the ends of the fcapulars marked with black : but what 

 diftinguifb.es the bird from others is the two middle long tail fea- 

 thers, which are of a beautiful deep red their whole length, ex- 

 cept the lhafts and bafe, which are black : the fides over the 

 thighs duiky : the legs black. 

 Place and This fpecies is met with frequently at large as the others, but 



does not feem to be fo far fpread. Our navigators met with them 

 in various places, though they were feldom feen by them on ihore, 

 except in the breeding feafon, which is in September and O£lober. 

 Are found in great numbers in the IJland of Mauritius, where they 

 make the neft in hollows in the ground under the trees ; the eggs 

 are two in number, of a yellowifh white, marked with rufous 

 fpots *. Mention has been made in another place -j- of the in- 

 troduction of Paradife Grakks into the IJland of Bourbon, from 

 whence they fpread into that of Mauritius; at firfb intended for 

 the very ufeful purpofe of deftroying the Locujis and Grajhoppers,' 

 which fwarmed there to a great degree : the refult of their prodi- 

 gious increafe, and the unlooked-for confequence of it, has been 

 there likewife mentioned. Thefe birds, we are told, are great 

 enemies to the 'Tropic Birds, ocular demonftration of which was 

 had by M. de Querhoent ; for, being feated beneath a tree in which 

 were perched a number of the Grakles, he obferved a Tropic Bird 

 come to its hole, in order to go to the neft, but the Grakles at- 

 tacked the bird all at once, and obliged it to fly off"; it then re- 

 turned with its conjort in company, but without effect, as they 

 were both driven away, as the fingle one had been before ; when 



* Voy. to Maurit. p. 66. — Hijl. des Oif. 

 f Vol. i. Part ii. p. 459. of this Work. 



the 



