THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
4i3 
The Tropic Bird ( Phcethon csthereus ) is a splendid specimen of swift 
moving creatures, and is very striking in its appearance. Except for 
the short, stout beak its head and neck suggest the white pigeon. The 
back immediately over the wings is scalloped brownish-black, and the wings 
have a black edge from the tips half way their length. The black back 
markings are separated by a wave-like white band which immediately after 
expands so as to cover the rest of the body. Its tail consists of several long 
shaft feathers curved and projecting like an elephant’s tusks. Its habitat is 
Mauritius, and its young in no wise suggest the parent, as they are little 
round cottony balls. Its body is about two feet and a half long while the tail 
tropic bird (Pluston csthereus ), frigate bird (Tachypetes aquila), and brown pelican. 
will reach a foot and three-quarters. It is very graceful in its motions, seem¬ 
ing to dart through the air, and can remain on the wing without apparent 
limit of time. It is generally found within two or three hundred miles of 
the coast, but has been seen at four times this distance. It constantly emits a 
harsh cry so that it has sometimes been called the boatswain , while its peculiar 
tail has gained for it yet another name,—that of the star-tail. 
The Booby (Sula fusca ) is a wild gannet which must have given rise 
to the comparison “ as stupid as a goose.” It will devote its whole time to 
fishing, and tamely and wonderingly suffer itself to be robbed of fish after 
fish by the frigate bird. It is often caught by putting a bait upon a board 
