3J AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN. 



^, t i nK i / T.inn n a82G). f As Bloxham tells us that the 

 Phaeton athereus, Bloxham, A oy. Blonde, App. p. 251 (nee Lmn. I) \ . flv nr 



i i i ±i e A~in\* T«landers there can be no doubt that he chiefly or 

 red tail-feathers are much valued by the Sandwich lalanaers men. 



only referred to Ph. rubricauda, Bodd.) 

 Phanicurus rubricauda, Bp. Consp. ii. p. 183 (1856). 

 Phaeton rubrkaudata, Finsch & Hartl. Viig. Ost-Afr. p. 38!) (1870). 



, . ii ,i i e n l u-n n 122 fTon»a Is.) ; Finscli, J. t. U. 1074, pp. oo, 0/ 

 Phaeton rubricaudatta, Pinsch & Hartl. J. f. O. 18<o, p. ( ° " 



(Samoa Is.). fl M «]lel ■ Finscli, J. f. O. 1880, p. 290 



Phaeton rubricauda, Cab. & Reichen. J. 1. O. 1876, p. 329 (8. Gazelle) , n , 

 (Ponape) , id. Ibis, 1881, p. 115 (Ponape) , Eidgw. Man. N.-Amer. B. p. 74 (1887). 



UU,n. Whole plumage silky white, with an indication of a rosy tinge above in some specimens 

 " and a distinct rosy tinge on the quills and axillaris A large crescent-shaped Mack spot 

 in front of the eye and a smaller one behind the eye. The feathers ot the back and 

 breast have a delicate scaly appearance, the borders being of a somewhat different shade 

 of white and not so silky. Most of the feathers are white throughout, but those of the 

 head and hind neck have blackish bases, becoming more longitudinal and arrow- 

 shaped towards the back and disappearing in the interscapular region. Quills, reetrices, 

 and axillaries have the shafts black from above, white at the tips and from beneath. 

 Innermost secondaries with very large black spots in the middle of the feathers. The 

 very much elongated feathers on the flanks white, with broad longitudinal blackish spots 

 along their central portion. The two elongated central tail-feathers bright crimson with 

 black shafts. Bill scarlet, with a black stripe running through the nostrils ; tarsus and 

 base of feet bluish flesh-colour, greater part of toes and webs black. Iris dark brown. 

 The nestling is covered with uniform grey down. Its bill is of a brownish flesh-colour; legs 

 flesh-colour with purplish tinge ; webs bluish brown ; iris brown. 



Total length of the adult birds about 30 inches with the long tail-feathers, about 18 without, 

 wine 12-4 to 12-7, culmen 2-35 to 2'55 (2-45 on an average). 



Eggs ovate, ground-colour a dirty white, speckled, sprinkled, spotted, and blotched, and 

 ° sometimes almost entirely covered with a dirty brownish claret-colour and some darker 

 and browner spots ; by transparent light yellow. They measure 2'45 by 171, 2' L by 177, 

 2-52 by 1-77, 2G by 1*74, 2-0 by 177, 2-G5 by 1*88 inches. 



PALMER found this species breeding all over the island of Laysan. He records :— " These 

 birds are now (June) breeding. They make a IioIIoav in the ground under the bushes for 

 their nest, and lay only one egg, and are just losing their long red tail-feathers. If disturbed 

 they will not leave their nest, but begin a most hideous harsh screaming, and will continue 

 to scream till they are pulled olf their egg or left alone." 



