6 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



PHOEBASTRIA ALBATRUS (Pallas). 

 SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS. 



HABITS. 



This was one of the species that we expected to find in the vicinity 

 of the Aleutian Islands, but, although we spent the month of June, 

 1911, in cruising the whole length of the chain as far west as Attn 

 Island and were exploring in the neighborhood of the various islands 

 in Bering Sea all through July, we did not see, well enough to 

 identify it, a single individual, in spite of the fact that we kept a 

 sharp lookout for it and that other observers had found it common 

 there. Possibly some of the dark-colored albatrosses, which we saw 

 on both sides of the Aleutian Islands, and which we supposed were 

 black-footed albatrosses, may have been young birds of this species. 



Dr. E. W. Nelson (1887) says that he 



found them very common between the islands east of Unalaska. The birds 

 were very conspicuous from tlieir white plumage and great size. During calm 

 days they were most numerous, and ten or fifteen were frequently seen at a 

 time. Unlike the black-footed albatross, these birds do not appear to follow 

 vessels, and, in fact, are so shy that as a rule they give a wide berth to any 

 species of sailing craft. 



Yet he says again : "The natives of Alexandroosk sometimes spear 

 them from their kyacks." 



Mr. H. W. Elliott (1875), in writing of the birds of the fur seal 

 islands, about 1875, says : 



Twenty or thirty years ago, when whaling vessels were reaping their rich 

 harvests in Bering and the Arctic Seas, the albatross was often seen about the 

 islands, feeding upon the whale carrion which might drift on shore. But with 

 the decrease of the whale fishery the birds have almost disappeared. Only a 

 single individual was noted during my two years' residence. This was taken 

 by Dr. Meany on the north shore of Saint George's. 



The decline of the whale-fishing industry since that time has prob- 

 ably still further reduced the abundance of this species in those 

 waters. 



Mr. Lucien M. Turner (1886) says: 



Among the Aleutian Islands they are quite common, but generally far out 

 at sea. They approach the land during dense fogs, and may then be found 

 sitting on a small rock jutting from the water. This species passes the winter 

 in this locality and may be found, during very severe weather, about the west- 

 ern end of Attn Island. 



Dr. L. Stejneger (1885) found this species "by no means a rare 

 visitor to the Commander Islands." He differs from Mr. Turner, 

 however, in saying: 



They do not remain near the islands during the winter — at least I saw none — 

 but the first ones were observed as early as the middle of March. These were 

 old birds in the white plumage, and on April 14th not less than eight were seen 



