PHÆTON

PHÆTON, in ornithology, a genus of birds belonging to the order of aneſes; the characters of which are: The bill is ſharp, ſtraight, and pointed; the noſtrils are oblong, and the hinder toe is turned forward. There are two ſpecies, viz.

1. The demerſus, or red-footed pinguin, has a thick, arched, red bill; the head, hind-part of the neck, and the back, of a dusky purpliſh hue, and breſt and belly white; brown wings, with the tips of the feathers white; inſtead of a tail, a few black bristles; and red legs. It is found on Pinguin iſle, near the Cape of Good Hope, is common all over the South Seas, and is about the ſize of a goſe.

2. The ethereus, or tropic bird, is about the ſize of a partridge, and has very long wings. The bill is red, with an angle under the lower mandible. The eyes are encompaſſed with black, which ends in a point towards

Phaeton. wards the back of the head. Three or four of the larger quill-feathers, towards their ends, are black, tipped with white; all the rest of the bird is white, except the back, which is variegated with curved lines of black. The legs and feet are of a vermilion red. The toes are webbed. The tail consists of two long straight narrow feathers, almost of equal breadth from their quills to their points. See Plate CCCLXXXIX.

"The name tropic bird (says Latham), given to this genus, arises from its being chiefly found within the tropic circles; but we are not to conclude, that they never stray voluntarily, or are driven beyond them; for we have met with a few instances to prove the contrary (A). It is, however, so generally found within the tropical limits, that the sight of this bird alone is sufficient to inform the mariner of a very near approach to if not his entrance therein. It has also been thought to portend the contiguity of land (B); but this has often proved fallacious, as it is not unfrequently found at very great distances therefrom. The flight of this bird is often to a prodigious height; but at other times it is seen, along with the frigate pelican, booby, and other birds, attending the flying fishes at their rise from the water, driven from their native element into the air by their watery enemies, the shark (C), porpoise, albacore, bonito, and dolphin, which pursue them beneath, and prey upon them. These birds are sometimes observed to rest on the surface of the water, and have been now and then seen in calm weather upon the backs of the drowly tortoises, supinely floating in the sea, so that they have been easily taken by the long boat manned. On shore they will perch on trees; and are said to breed in the woods, on the ground beneath them. They have been met with in plenty on the islands of St Helena, Ascension, Mauritius, New Holland, and various places in the South Seas; but in no place so numerous as at Palmerston Island, where these birds, as well as the frigates, were in such plenty, that the trees were absolutely loaded with them, and so tame, that they suffered themselves to be taken off the boughs with the hand. At Otaheite, and in the Friendly isles, the natives give them the names of baingoo and toolahee.

"As the tropic bird sheds the long tail feathers every year, the inhabitants of such isles as they frequent, collect and make use of them by way of ornament in various manners; they are worn in the caps of the Sandwich islanders, being in great plenty at Tahooa, as also in various parts of their dress; but in none more conspicuous than in the mourning garment of Ota-

heite, in which island numbers are picked up in the mountainous parts, where it also breeds. The flesh cannot be called good, but was found sufficiently acceptable to those who had long been confined to salt provisions, and in which circumstance the sailors did not despise it."

There is a variety of this bird called by Latham the white tropic bird. It is less than the one we have already described, and is found in as many places as it. The plumage of this bird is in general of a silvery white. The yellow tropic bird is a further variety of the same species, the plumage being of a yellowish white. These differences, Mr Latham thinks, arise merely from age, if they are not the distinguishing mark of sex.

3. The black-billed tropic bird is smaller than any of the former. The bill is black; the plumage on the upper part of the body and wings is striated, partly black and partly white; before the eye there is a large crescent of black, behind it is a streak of the same; the forehead and all the under parts of the body are of a pure white colour; the quills and tail are marked as the upper parts, but the ends of the first are white, and most of the feathers of the last are marked with dusky black at the tips; the sides over the thighs are striated with black and white; the legs are black. One of these was found at Turtle and Palmerston islands, in the South Seas, and is in the possession of Sir Joseph Banks.

4. The red-tailed tropic bird is in length about two feet ten inches, of which the two tail feathers alone measure one foot nine inches. The bill is red; the plumage white, tinged of an elegant pale rose-colour; the crescent over the eyes is somewhat abrupt in the middle; the ends of the scapulars are marked with black. This bird is distinguished from others by two middle long tail feathers, which are of a beautiful deep red colour, except the shafts and base, which are black; the sides over the thighs are dusky; and the legs are black.

"This species (says Latham) is met with frequently at large as the others, but does not seem to be so far spread. Our navigators met with them in various places, though they were seldom seen by them on shore except in the breeding season, which is in September and October. They are found in great numbers in the island of Mauritius, where they make the nest in hollows in the ground under the trees; the eggs are two in number, of a yellowish white marked with rufous spots.

spots. The same author gives an account of the introduction of paradise grackles into the island of Bourbon, from whence they spread into that of Mauritius; at first intended for the very useful purpose of destroying the locusts and grasshoppers, which swarmed there to a great degree: the result of their prodigious increase, and the unlooked for consequence of it, he has likewise mentioned. These birds, we are told, are great enemies to the tropic birds, ocular demonstration of which was had by M. de Querhoent; for, being seated beneath a tree in which were perched a number of the grackles, he observed a tropic bird come to its hole, in order to go to the nest; but the grackles attacked the bird all at once, and obliged it to fly off; it then returned with its consort in company, but without effect, as they were both driven away, as the single one had been before; when the grackles returned to their tree, and the spectator left them in that situation.

"This species of tropic bird has been met with in several places of the South Seas; very common at Palmerston and Turtle islands; at Hervey's island in the greatest plenty, and of which considerable numbers were killed for provisions; and here also they make the nests in the same manner as at Mauritius. The name it is known by at Otaheite and the Friendly isles is tacooge and tollo." See DIOMEDEA and PINGUIN.