536 



PALMIPEDES. 



SUB-FAMILY 11. 

 DiOMEDEiN.E. TJte Albatrosses. 



Gen. Charac. — Nostrils short, tubular, widest anteriorly, and placed near 

 the base of the lateral groove. 



Fig. 208. — the wandering albatross. 

 (DiomeJea exulans.) 



These, the largest of marine birds, are found 

 througliout both hemispheres, but more especially in 

 the neighbourhood of Cape Horn, the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and throughout the Southern Ocean generally. 

 They are seen sometimes at a great distance from 

 land, skimming over the surface of the sea with great 

 rapidity, or resting on the waves. During strong' 

 gales and stormy weather, they soar into the higher 

 region of the air. They feed most voraciously on 

 fish, especially the flying-fishes, as also on mollusca 

 and gelatinous animals. To such an extent do they 

 cram themselves, that they are frequently unable to 



