12 (250) B R A N D r, Zoologie. 
ratio aliquid peculiaris habet. In aere enim suspensi mox quasi tremulan- 
tes apparent, alas frequentissime appropinquantes, mox quasi lassitudine cofi- 
fftcti praecipitare videntur. Rarius in aere quasi pendent. Haud raro e 
summa altitudine ipsius corporis pondere decidunt piscibus in superficie 
aquae conspicius vel e mari evolantibus capiendis , qui nirtrimentum pri- 
marium , forsan adeo unicum, ipsis praebere videntur. In piscium volan- 
tium captura saepius Tacbypetibus associatos invenire lice\. Piscibus in 
aquae superficie obviis Sternarum more potiuntur, urinandi facultate pror- 
sus carentes. Relata praeda ex ipsa maris superficie oblique demio assur- 
gunt in auras. 
E^regie et vere poetice Phaethontum vitam adumbravit Stanley (A 
Familiar history of Birds London 1835 8 Vol. I. p. 95) his verbis : 
„The^Tropic-Bird is the very reverse of the heavy gigantic Albatross, 
and might fairly by called the fairv of the ocean ; seen as it is in the 
genial latiludes of the warmest climates of the globe, — now a stationary 
speck elevated as for as the eye can reach , contrasted with the dark blue 
of the sky , like a spangle in the heavens ; then suddenly descending like 
a fallingstar and as suddenly checking its course to hover for awhile over 
the topmost point of a vessels mast , and then darting like a meteor with 
fts two long projecting tail-feathers streaming in the air , downwards on a 
shoal of flying-fish ; and then rising gracefully with its prize, again to soar 
aloft and take its reste above the clouds." t 
Teste Quoyo et Gaimardo Phaethontes supra rupes nigras vulcanicas 
profundarum Insulae Franciae catarrhactarum vocis striduli sonitu gyros in 
aere ducentes pulcherrimum spectabulum praebent. 
Phaethontes ceterum supra altum maris in aeribus conspicui naves 
neutiquam fugiunt , sed supra vela pendent et iis interdum insident ; imo 
adeo vexillis altissimis velis affixis allici posse dicuntur. .Tale autem expe- 
rimentum Quoyo et Gaimardb neutiquam contigit, quamvis traditur in 
