282 THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
12. Red-tailed Tropic-bird Phaethon rubricaudus Boddaert 
Pha'-eth-on— Gk, phaethon, shining: ru-bri-caud'-us— L., ruber, red; L., 
cauda, tail. 
distribution. Tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Mada¬ 
gascar and the Mauritius to the Galapagos Islands, and from the 
Bonin and Hawaiian Islands to Australia and the Kermadec Islands. 
notes. Also called Red-tailed Bos’n-bird. This species is only a 
straggler to the south-eastern coast, but is common on Norfolk, Lord 
Howe, and Raine Islands. It may be distinguished from the smaller 
White-tailed Tropic-bird by the two long red streamers in its tail. 
Breeds on the Mauritius and Christmas Islands, on islands off the 
north-western coast of Australia, and on Raine Island; also on Lord 
Howe, Norfolk, the Society, Palmerston, Bonin, and Hawaiian Islands. 
nest. A depression in the ground, sheltered by a bush or rock; some¬ 
times on a ledge or in a crevice of a rocky cliff. 
egg. Dull white or pale pinkish-red, almost obscured by minute 
freckles, spots, or smudges of pinkish-red to blackish-brown, inter¬ 
mingled with larger underlying markings of purplish-grey, the darker 
markings being frequently confined to the larger end, where often a 
zone is formed. Breeding-season: September to March (Lord Howe Is¬ 
land, and Phillip Island off Norfolk Island); practically throughout 
the year elsewhere. 
13. White-tailed Tropic-bird Phaethon lepturus Daudin 
tcp-tuf-us— Gk, leptos, delicate; Gk, oura, tail. 
distribution. Tropical seas. 
notes. Also called White-tailed Bos'n-bird. A rare straggler to 
the coasts of northern and eastern Australia. The most southern record 
is an immature bird collected at Botany Bay, New South Wales. 
Breeds on numerous islands throughout the tropical seas. 
nest. A depression in sand on the floor of a crevice in a rocky cliff. 
egg. Buff, freckled all over with purplish-brown markings. Breeding- 
season: December to September. 
14. Greater Frigate-bird Fregata minor Gmelin 
Fre-ga'-ta- latinized from Fr. fregate, a frigate: mV-nor- L., minor, 
smaller. 
distribution. The seas of northern and southern Australia; 
occurs generally in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. 
notes. Also called Great Frigate-bird, Man-o’-war Hawk, and Sea- 
hawk. Usually seen soaring over the sea or circling an island, often 
so high in the air as to appear a mere speck against the sky. Its flight 
is remarkably swift and graceful, and it remains on the wing piactically 
throughout the whole day. This species procures its food from the 
surface of the water, or by compelling Terns, Ganncts, and other sea¬ 
birds to disgorge their prey, which it adroitly catches. Food: young 
