found within the tropics; a circumstance fo gene¬ 
rally remarked that it affords one of the molt com¬ 
mon nautical obfervations relative to approaching 
thofe regions. They are however occalionally feen, 
though rarely, at fome confiderable diltance beyond 
the tropics. Thefe birds may well be faid to foar 
tc with no middle wing,” fince their afcent is fo 
uncommonly lofty, and fo powerfully rapid, as 
quickly to raife them beyond human view. Even 
the Albatroffes, fo remarkable for the heights which 
they attain in the air, and the vaft extent of their 
excurfions, cannot equal the daring and exalted 
flight of thefe etherial wanderers. From thefe ele¬ 
vations they occalionally defcend to feek for prey, 
and darting down with vaft velocity, feize on and 
devour the fmaller lift), which form the principal 
article of their food. Between the different fpecies 
of Phaeton, which are but few, there is the greateft 
degree of general fimilarity of ftiape and fize ; and 
indeed they differ principally in colour: the com¬ 
mon tropic-bird being of a beautiful fllvery white, 
thickly traverfed on the upper part of the body 
with ihort lunulated ftreaks of black; while the 
prefent fpecies is of an extremely pale rofe-colour, 
or rather nearly white with a rofe-coloured tinge, 
and without any of thofe black ftreaks which dif- 
tinguilh the former kind. The two middle tail- 
feathers, which greatly exceed the reft in length, 
are of a deep and beautiful crimfon. In all the tro¬ 
pic-birds yet known there is commonly behind and 
acrofs each eye a remarkable ftreak of black. The 
beak in this fpecies is of a fine red; the legs black- 
ifli; 
