126 Transactions. — Zoology. 



tralia," conjectures that it may breed on the Mewstone and 

 some other small islands to the south of Tasmania, from the 

 fact that adult birds are commonly seen in the neighbourhood 

 during the spring mouths ; but up to the present time this 

 supposition has not been verified. It will be interesting to 

 ascertain whether the few specimens caught off our shores 

 have come from a breeding- station to the south of New Zea- 

 land, or have wandered across from Tasmania. 



Art. X. — The Habits and Home of the Wandering Albatross 



(Diomedea exulans). 



By A. Eeischek, F.L.S. 



\_Read before the Auckland Institute, 2nd July, 18S8.] 



This noble bird may justly be called the king among the sea- 

 birds. Many times during my sea-voyages have I admired its 

 flight and easy sailing over the waves, as it followed om- vessel, 

 hundreds of miles from the nearest land. Its power of flight 

 surpasses that of most birds, and is easily accounted for by 

 the unusual development of the muscles of the breast and 

 wings, the latter being equal to, if not stronger than, those of 

 the eagle. It is worthy of remark that the quills of the wing 

 are spread or brought close together according as the bhd is 

 rising or falling in its flight. The steering is done not with 

 the tail alone, but also with the broad w^ebbed feet. These, 

 when a straight course is being followed, are stretched out, 

 and nearly concealed under the tail ; but when a quick turn is 

 required their position is altered, and the webs are spread in 

 such a manner as to greatly assist the bird in turning. When 

 there is little wind and the ocean is calm, albatrosses have 

 great difficulty in rising horn the water ; when there is a swell 

 they run along the water and rise with a wave. When alight- 

 ing, on nearing the surface they bend the head back, cm-ve 

 the wings upwards, beating the air with numerous laboured 

 strokes, then, straightening their feet, they let themselves fall. 

 They are fast swimmers, but cannot dive. Their food, which 

 consists chiefly of some of the lower forms of marine life found 

 floating on the surface of the ocean, they scoop up with their 

 bill in the same manner as the ducks. 



I had long been anxious to visit their breeding-haunts, but 

 had no opportunity of doing this v;ntil January, 1888, when I 

 was afforded the privilege of accompanying the Government 

 steamer " Stella" on her yearly cruise among the islands to 

 the south of New Zealand. After visiting Stewart Island and 

 the Snares, the steamer's course was directed towards the 



