England to Fori Vancouver. 297 



did not extend so high, so that the superior limit of vegetation 

 might be about 2000 feet. All these measurements are to be 

 viewed merely as approximations ; but, in regions so seldom 

 visited by observers, I have thought that even approximations 

 merit being recorded. 



In the Atlantic, the gigantic Albatross (Diomedea exulans) 

 of the southern seas first appeared in Lat. 30° 57' S. on the 30th 

 Nov., and disappeared again in the South Pacific on our reach- 

 ing Lat. 35° S. During a space of two months, we had these 

 birds more or less constantly round the ship, when their voracity 

 afforded us all on board much amusement, as the observation 

 of their manners was a fertile source of employment. I have 

 seen three distinct kinds characterised by a distinct marking of 

 the plumage ; but to what extent these form distinct species, or 

 whether they are merely varieties of sex, age, S^c. would require 

 an acquaintance with them on their native breeding places to 

 determine. The ^rst is characterised by a beautifully snow- 

 white head, neck, and belly, with dark brown wings ; it is the 

 largest of the three, the expanse of wing varying from 10 to 13 

 feet. It was the most common variety before crossing the meri- 

 dian of Cape Horn, being comparatively rare in the Pacific : — 

 the second was all over of a dark brown colour, its head was 

 nearly black, forming a remarkable contrast with its long white 

 hooked beak ; its size much less than that of the preceding ; we 

 were never so fortunate as to shoot or hook a specimen of this 

 variety : — the third was characterised by a remarkable circular 

 black spot on the vertex. The head, neck, and belly, were of a 

 spotted grey colour, and the back and wings of a light brown. 

 Its expanse of wing was about 6-7 feet ; this was by far the most 

 common variety in the Pacific Ocean. These circumstances of 

 geographical distribution would lead us to doubt of their being 

 mere varieties of age and sex. Of the prodigious force of wing 

 of these birds, I have attempted giving some illustration in a let- 

 ter to my Father, which you have probably seen. 



We met with the Cape Pigeon on two different occasions in 

 the Southern Ocean, in the vicinity of the American continent. 

 And, when off the Falkland Isles, two individuals of the singu- 

 lar Chionis tribe, with a snow-white plumage, hovered for some 

 time round the ship. 



