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THE TROPIC BIRD. 
falls gracefully under the coverts of the tail, which 
coverts are of a similar colour. The shafts of the 
tail feathers are black for two thirds of their length, 
the remaining third being white. The tail itself is 
cuneiform ; the two covert feathers of which mea- 
sure nineteen inches in length. The bird, from the 
tip of the beak to the extremity of the tailj is two 
feet and a half long. Its legs are of an orange 
colour. The webs of the feet down to the toes are 
dark black, except that part which divides the first 
toe from the small one ; it being of the same colour 
as the legs. 
I have been minute in describing this marine 
wanderer, as it is by no means common in our mu- 
seums. Moreover, I take a more than ordinary 
interest in the bird, on account of its singular habit 
in going to such an astonishing distance from the 
land. Its name, too, is very interesting to me, as it 
brings into my mind pleasing recollections of that 
Roman poet, who has left such sound instructions 
for the welfare of young country squires, in Apollo's 
warning to his rash and luckless son. 
On the coast of Cayenne, in South America, 
there is a rock of enormous dimensions. It is 
called Le Grand Connetable by the French ; and it 
rises out of the ocean, at some distance from the 
shore, like an aquatic giant of the first magnitude. 
On its shelving protuberances are to be found the 
nests of innumerable sea-fowl. Amongst these 
winged explorers of the deep, it is said that the 
tropic bird prepares for incubation and rears its 
young. I say, it is said," for I have not been 
