178 



PROCEEDINGS Of TIIE ACADEMY OF 



this species are quite parallel with those of exulans, and need not detain us, as 

 they are well known. A shining rusty yellow suffusion of the feathers of the 

 head and neck is met with in perhaps the majority of adult specimens. 



That this species is the spadicea var. B. of Latham, as above, when in the 

 fuliginous state of plumage, is evidenced, if not by Latham's brief description, 

 by his citation of PI. Enl., No. 963, which gives correctly the outline of the 

 frontal feathers and other points, whereby it is distinguishable from the young 

 exulans. The same plate is also cited by Temminck himself as representing 

 the young brachyura. 



A specimen before me, unquestionably brachyura, is in precisely the state of 

 plumage described under the name epomophora by Lesson in his works above 

 cited, and recognized as a valid species by Tschudi and Bonaparte. The 

 relative amount of black and white on the wings is very variable, tbe latter 

 color sometimes pervading all the coverts; and at others being restricted to a 

 small spot at the elbow, producing the appearance which suggested Lesson's 

 name. 



The questions arising from the confounding of nigripes Audubon with this 

 spfcies are discussed under head of the latter. 



Note. I find in the Smithsonian Institution a skull of an Albatross, want- 

 ing tbe lower jaw, in general features mott like that of brachyura, (numerous 

 examples of which are before me,) but differing as follows : 



It is considerably narrower and smaller in nearly all of its dimensions ; the 

 bill especially being slenderer, weaker and more compressed, with a less ele- 

 vated and smaller unguis. The frontal outline is decidedly more concave on 

 the median line. The culminicorn was narrower and less flattened basally : 

 did not descend so low to meet the latericorn behind the nostrils, and was 

 more convex along its dorsal outline. The fronto-maxillary suture is nar- 

 rower. The palatal bones are smaller and narrower, and sink to the level of 

 the commissural edge murh sooner. 



A most marked difference is seen in the supra-orbital fossa for the lodgment 

 of the gland, whose secretion is poured into the nasal cavity. It is very 

 soi*U, and particularly narrow ; so that, the least width between it and its 

 fellow is greater than in brachyura, although the skull is narrower. These 

 fossae have no floors whatever on their anterior halves. 



Numerous other minor differences may be summed up as resulting from the 

 smallness and narrowness of the skull, which is well illustrated by the follow- 

 ing measurements. It will be noted that the bill is absolutely longer, and 

 therefore still more comparatively elongated than in brachyura. 



Upon these mesgre, though decided data, I do not like to formally introduce 

 a species ; and must, therefore, for the present, content myself with pointing 

 out tbe differences which exiit in the specimen to which I have affixed the 

 above name of leptorhyncha. 



DlOMEDEA NIGRIPES Audubon. 



Diomedea nigripes, Audubon, Orn. Biog. v. 1839, p. 327. Audubnn, Birds 

 Amer. vii. 1842, p. 198. [West coast Amer.] Cassin, Illust. B. Cal. & 

 Texas, 1853, p. 210, pi. 35. [Cala.] Schlegel, Mon. Proc. Mus. Pays- 



[May, 



