THE SOOTY ALf.ATROSS. 115 



istic arrangement of black and yellow on the bill, which is distinct even at a considerable 

 distance. It was with us from September 22nd to September 30th, 1901, and again 

 quite close in shore off the coast of South Africa (False Bay) as well as over the 

 Acrulhas sandbank, but eastward of this, in the Southern Indian Ocean, its place was 

 taken entirely by Thalassogeron culminatus, which we had not once observed in the 

 South Atlantic. Th. cldororliynchus is known, however, to range over the South 

 Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans, and the Australian seas. That its range varies, 

 however, with the season, as is apparently the case with s(i many Southern Ocean 

 birds, seems evident from its complete absence during our voyage from the Cape to 

 New Zealand in October and November. 



No example was taken on the ' Discovery's ' voyage. 



PHtEBETRIA FULIGINOSA. 



The Sooty Alhatross. 



Diomedcafulk/inosa, Gmel., Syst. Xat., i. (1788), p. .')68. 



Phiebelria fiiUyinosa, Reidi. Av. Syst. Xat. Longip. (18-52), p. V. ; Shurpe, Rep. 'Southern Cross' Coll. 

 (1902), p. 163, ihique ciMa. 



PIICEBETRIA CORNICOIDES. 



Phmhetria cornkokles, Hutton, Ibis (18G7), p. 192 ; Eagle Clarke, Birds of Gough I., Ibis (1905), 

 p. 267. 



Matekial in the 'Discovery's' Collection. 



No. 12.5, ad. sk., ,J . Oct. 2(i. 1901. At sea. 42^ 4o' S. .33° 38' E. 



The colouring of the soft parts is as follows :^ 



Bill, entirely black, except fur a narrow edging of livid blue along the cutting edges. 



Iris, dark brown. 



Bare skin of the chin beneath the mandible, dusky blue. 



Legs and toes, flesh grey. 



Webs, also flesh grey, but dull red by transmitted light. 



Claws, quite pale grey. 



The Sooty Albatross is perhaps the most striking bird of all in the Southern 

 Oceans, as it is the most sinister in expression and the best adapted by its dusky 

 plumage, and its interested manner, to form the basis of sailors' legends and 

 superstitions. On September 23, 1901 (36° S. 11° W.), we first saw it in our wake 

 and thence onward until two days before we reached Cape Town, on October 3rd. On 

 leaving, it was again two days before we picked it up. Then we had six or eight sailing 

 round our ship, very inquisitive, but not at all inclined to feed in the .ship's wake. 

 They tlew so close over our heads that we could see the expression of their eyes. We 

 were flying meteorological kites at the time, and so interested were they in the 

 messengers sent up, that they constantly fouled the lines. Throughout October they 

 were abundantly with us, and we procured one male Pli. conncoides, spanning 7ft. 4in. 



