224 
THE TROPIC BIRD. 
long, acute ; primaries strong, tapering, the first longest, the rest rapidly 
graduated ; secondaries very short, incurved, rounded, the inner longer. 
Tail of twelve feathers, wedge-shaped, the two middle feathers extremely 
elongated, narrow, and tapering. 
Bill orange-red. Iris brown. Tarsi and base of toes yellow, the rest 
and the webs black, as are the claws. The general colour of the plumage 
is pale pink, or white tinged with carmine, the two middle tail feathers 
redder. A curved spot before the eye, and band behind it, black. A band 
of the same colour extends across the wing from the flexure, running narrow 
along the middle coverts, much enlarged on the inner secondaries and their 
coverts, and including the extremities of the scapulars. The outer webs, 
shafts, and a portion of the inner webs of the first four primary quills, are 
also black, and there is a spot of the same on some of the primary coverts. 
The shafts of the two middle tail feathers are black, excepting towards the 
end ; and some of the long hypochondrical feathers are greyish-black in the 
centre. 
Length to end of tail 291 inches, to end of wings 16, to end of claw 14 ; 
extent of wings 38 ; wing from flexure 11^ ; tail 19-£- ; bill along the ridge 
2, along the edge of lower mandible 2f ; tarsus ljf ; middle toe 1 T 4 2 , its 
claw f W eight 15 oz. 
Adult Female. 
The female resembles the male, but is less tinged with red. The bill is 
yellow, the iris and feet as in the male. The tail-feathers are also less 
elongated. 
Length to end of tail 26 inches, to end of wings 141, to end of claws 13 ; 
wing from flexure 11 ; tail 16 ; extent of wings 34 ; bill along the ridge H, 
along the edge of lower mandible 2i ; tarsus If ; middle toe l T V,its claw 
Weight 12 oz. 
