1^4 



PHAETON. TROPIC-BIRD. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum validum, capite lon- 

 glus, compressum, supra 

 convexum, rectum, mar- 

 gine denticulate, apice 

 adunco, acuto. 



Nares obloDgae, perviae. 



Fades plumis tecta. 



Cauda cuneiformis, rectrici- 

 bus duabus intermediis 

 longissimis. 



Pedes breves; tibice basi 

 nudas. 



BeaJc strong, longer than the 

 head, compressed, above 

 convex, straight, its edge 

 denticulated, the tip bent 

 down and acute. 



Nostrils oblong, pervious. 



Face clothed with feathers. 



Tail wedge-shaped, the two 

 intermediate tail-feathers 

 very long. 



Legs short ; the base of the 

 tibia naked. 



PHAETON. Linn., Gmel., Lath., Cuv., Temm., Vieill., &c. 

 LEPTURUS. Briss. 

 TROPICOPHILUS. Leach. 



As their name implies, these birds are usually 

 found within the tropics : in fact, it is a rare occur- 

 rence for them to be observed v^ithout that zone of 

 the globe, and they are so constant that our mariners 

 hail their appearance as a sure indication of their 

 vicinity to the tropics ; they seldom approach the 

 land, except for the purpose of nidificjtion, and, in 



