PHAETON, Lin. &c. 'Fume Blur,.
Bill as long as the head, thick, strong, hard, sharp-edg ed, much compressed, pointed, slightly sloped from the base, edges of the mandibles widened at. the base, com pressed and serrated in the rest of their length ; nostrils basal, lateral, covered above and near the base by a naked membrane, and pervious; legs very short, placed far back, all the toes connected by a web; wings long; tail shorter, but characterised by the elongation of the two filamentous middle feathers.
P. plicenicurus, Tem. Red-Tailed, or Common Tropic Bird. Of a roseate flesh-colour; bill, and two middle tail feathers red. Two feet ten inches long, of which the two middle tail feathers measure one foot nine inches. The young of the first year are streaked black and white, with the under parts white; the bill black ; the quill feathers tipt with white; and those of the tail with black, consti tuting P. melanorhynchos, of some authors; but, in a more advanced state they are white, with the middle tail fea thers black at the base, corresponding to P. rethereus, of
various ornithologists. These birds are well known to navigators, and generally announce their approach to the tropics, although they sometimes wander to the latitude of 472°. They are capable of supporting long flights, and of reposing on the water, feeding on the flying fish and others of the finny tribe that approach to the surface of the water. They rarely alight on the ground, and walk with awkward heaviness; but they glide through the air, or along the water, with grace and nimbleness. They breed mostly in desert or unfrequented islands, placing their nests on trees, or in holes of abrupt rocks. The fe male lays two yellowish white eggs, marked with rust-co loured spots. Their flesh is very indifferent food.