DIOMEDEID^ — THE ALBATROSSES — DIOMEDEA. 353 



perfect plumage. Confounding its young with D. nigripes — a distinct species he 



states that until its second year its plumage remains of a dark sooty brown, and that 

 in this dress it pairs, and raises young. But all this is now supposed to have refer- 

 ence to D. nigripes and not to D. albatrus. In the course of several years the plumage 

 of the body changes from nearly black to a pure snow-like white. 



Mr. Peale adds that birds of this species are usually silent ; but that they sometimes 

 quarrel over the offal thrown from the ship, and then they utter a sound like the 

 braying of an ass. They are easily caught with hook and line, but, owing to their 

 thick plumage and tenacity of life, they are with difficulty killed with shot. 



On the 20th of December this bird was found breeding on Wake's Island. The 

 single eg^ of each pair was laid on the ground, in a slight concavity, without any lining. 

 Both sexes take turns in the labors of incubation, and neither the male nor the female 

 parent abandons the vicinity of the nest when approached, but both walk around 

 the intruders in a very dignified manner, making but few attempts to defend them- 

 selves, even if taken up. The egg is white, of an oblong shape, with both ends nearly 

 alike ; it measures 4.20 inches in length, and 2.60 in breadth. The two sexes are 

 alike in plumage, and do not vary much in size, the male being rather the larger. 



Dr. Pickering mentions this species as occurring on the coast of Oregon, and as 

 being particularly abundant at sea north of the Sandwich Islands. Under date of 

 April 10, 1841, he speaks of finding it skimming over the surface of the water, and 

 bending its long wings, but not at so great an angle as is usual among birds. The rate 

 at which it flies is surprising, though at the same time its wings are without percep- 

 tible motion. It alights on the water I'ather awkwardly, and seems to take particular 

 care to adjust its long wings without wetting them. It swims with considerable 

 rapidity. 



Dr. Pickering mentions that on the 16th of April (lat. 30° 15' N.) birds of this 

 species alighted in the wake of the vessel, picking up such substances suitable for 

 food as had been thrown overboard ; and that in doing this they uttered faint cries, 

 intermediate in character between the honk of a Goose and the bleating of a sheep. 

 At ordinary times, however, this bird seems for the most part remarkably silent. 



Mr. R. Swinhoe, in his remarks on the Formosan ornithology ("Ibis," 1863), speaks 

 of this species as being the large Albatross of the Chinese seas, seen in more or less 

 abundance on every voyage. It goes as far north as Japan. He was not able to 

 discover its breeding-place, though, from its being found at Formosa at all seasons, 

 he suspected the islands on which it nests to be not far from the south coast of 

 China. He was of opinion that the Albatross is never figured correctly while on the 

 wing. "When flying, the wings are curved like the head of a pickaxe. It skims the 

 surface, rising and falling with every trough of the sea, with scarcely any percep- 

 tible motion of the wings, except at their tips. It often sails upward, and continues 

 in its flight, throAving first one shoulder forward, and then the other. This S]3ecies is 

 also mentioned by Mr. Swinhoe as having been seen by him at Amoy, China, and 

 again off the Island of Hainan, at sea, where it was noticed on various occasions during 

 his cruise. 



Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer mention this bird as being common about Oshima, in 

 Japan, and as present at Yezo, but not so common. The young, which resembles 

 D. derogata, is figured in the " Fauna Japonica." 



Dr. Cooper, while staying at Monterey, Cal., in May, 1861, noted the near presence 

 to the shore of immature birds of this species. They had been attracted by the Avhale- 

 fishers, and were busily engaged in picking up scraps of blubber in company with 

 Osaifraga gigantea. He regards this as being the characteristic species of the North 



VOL. II. — 45 



