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THE TROPIC BIRD* 
— a man, a mountain, or a mud-flat? Is "Black' 
Warrior" a negro of pugnacious propensities? 
Leaving, then, the advantages, or disadvantages, 
of this peculiar nomenclature to be discussed by 
doctors learned in ornithology, I will advert to times 
gone by, and I will remark, that Linnaeus, the 
Svvede, at all events, has been happy in the name 
which he has given to one of his birds ; and this is 
the tropic bird. He has called it Phaeton, no doubt, 
whatever, because it is chiefly to be found in that 
region, where old Apollo's son cut so conspicuous 
a figure on his father's coach-box. All the world 
has heard of Phaeton, and of the manner in which 
he unfortunately broke down in his first and last 
attempt at four-in-hand. 
Linnaeus, then, did well in giving the name of 
Phaeton to the tropic bird ; and I should not wish 
to see the name exchanged for that of the first doc- 
tor, duke, or draper, of these our latter days. 
Whilst inspecting the bird Phaeton, which may 
be found in some of our museums, full many a 
careful parent may say to his aspiring heir, Take 
warning, my lad, in time, and shun all jockies and 
jarvies as thou wouldst shun a pestilence. Con- 
siliis, non curribus utere nostris." The turf-boys 
will get the last penny out of thy pocket, and laugh 
thee to scorn ; and thou wilt be obliged to leave 
thy family-place, and go to foreign parts, there to 
vegetate on short allowance. As Phaeton and his 
rueful adventures have been immortalised by the 
Roman poet, whose works will be read by all nations 
to the end of time, the name of Phaeton, which 
