6 so
P lace and
Manners*
t r o p i c b i r d .
crefcent over the eyes as in the others, but fomewhat abrupt in the
middle: the ends of the fcapulars' marked with black: but what
diftinguifhes the bird from others is the two middle long tail feathers,
which are of a beautiful deep red their whole length,, except
the fliafts and bafe, which are black: the fides over the
thighs, dufky : the legs black.
This fpecies is m.et with frequently at large as the others, but
does not feem to be fo far fpread. Our navigators met with them
in various places, though they were feldom feen by them on Ihore,
except in the breeding feafon, which is in September and Oftober.
Are found in great numbers in the IJland of Mauritius, where they
make the neffi in hollows in the ground under the trees; the eggs
are two in number, of a yellowifh white, marked with rufous,
fpots *. Mention has been made in another place t of the introduction
of Paradije Grakles into the IJland of Bourbon, from
whence they fpread into that of Mauritius', at firft intended for
the very ufeful purpofe of deftroying the Locujls and Grajhoppers,
which fwarmed there to a great degree the refult of their prodigious
increafe, and the unlooked-for confequence of it, has been
there likewife mentioned. Thefe birds, we are told, are great
enemies to the Tropic Birds, ocular demonftration of which was
had by M. de guerhoent; for, being feated beneath a tree in which
were perched a number of the Grakles, he obferved a Tropic Bird
come to its hole, in order to go to the neft, but the Grakles attacked
the bird all at once, and obliged it to fly off s it then re_
turned with its conjort in company, but without e ire cl, as they
were both driven away, as the Angle one had been before 3 when
* Fey. to Maurit. p. 66.—Hijt. Jes Oif.
t Vol.q. Partii. p. 459. of this Work,
the
the Grakles returned to their tree, and the fpeflator left them in
that Atuation.
This fpecies of Tropic Bird has been met with in feveral places
of the South Seas; very common at Palmerjlon and Turtle IJlands j
at Hervey’s IJland in the greateft plenty, and of which conflderable
numbers were killed for proviflons*; and here alfo they make
the nefts in the fame manner as at Mauritius. The name it is
known by at Otaheite and the Friendly IJles is Tawagge and:
Totto.