Cheeseman. — 0)1 the Shy Albatross. 125 



Art. IX. — Notice of the Cavture of a Specimen of the Shy 

 Albatross (Diomedea cauta) oiear Auckland. 



By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



^Rcad before the Auckland Institute, 2nd July, 188S.] 



So far as I am aware, only two instances are on record of this 

 rare bird being obtained in New Zealand. Some time in 1876 

 a specimen was captured in Blueskin Bay, Otago, and came 

 into the possession of Professor Hutton, who was at that time 

 in charge of the Otago Museum. Professor Hutton identified 

 it as the Shy Albatross, or Diomedea cauta ; and I believe the 

 specimen still exists in the collections of the Museum. In 

 July, 1887, another example came ashore near the pilot- 

 station, at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. It was 

 secured by some fishermen, and ultimately passed into the 

 hands of Dr. (now Sir Walter) Buller. In the tenth volume 

 of the "Transactions" an account wdll be found of the cir- 

 cumstance, and a full description of the bird.'-^ 



About six weeks ago Mr. D. Bate, of Brighton, Parnell, 

 informed me that he had an albatross differing in plumage 

 from any of the stuffed examples in the Museum. On calling 

 to see it, I found that it was undoubtedly a male, in full 

 plumage, of the Shy Albatross. Mr. Bate informed me that 

 a friend of his, while shooting curlew by the side of the 

 Manukau Harbour, near Penrose, observed the bird in a grass- 

 paddock. Albatrosses are unable to take flight from a level 

 piece of ground, so that there was no difficulty in approaching 

 it ; in fact, it could do little more than w'addle about in a 

 circle. Concluding that it was injured, an attempt was made 

 to seize it by the neck. This was evidently done in a most 

 incautious manner, for I am informed that the bird retaliated 

 by seizing its assailant by the lower part of the nose, inflicting 

 a severe tear. How'ever, it was at length captured and 

 despatched. Mr. Bate has kindly presented the specimen to 

 the Museum, so that I am able to exhibit it to you this 

 evening. 



The Shy Albatross is easily distinguished from all the other 

 species by the beautiful pearl-grey feathers of the face and 

 neck, and by a narrow yellow line at the base of the bill. 

 This latter character can only be observed in living specimens, 

 although conspicuous enough in them ; the membrane soon 

 losing its colour after death. Very little is known of its habits. 

 Unlike the other species it is not at all bold, and seldom 

 approaches ships. Nothing is known of its breeding-places, 

 nest, or eggs. Mr. Gould, the author of the " Birds of Aus- 



* "Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. x., art. xxv., p. 217. 



