18 BULLETIN 121, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



on the back of the data : " The nests are very nicely and solidly built, lasting 

 two or three seasons, even in that fearful climate. They are built very closely 

 together, and are probably often mistaken by one and another of the birds, 

 after the fashion of many sea birds. The nests are high, to enable the long- 

 winged creatures to rise easily to wing, which they can not do on a level. 

 The birds are very tame, allowing themselves to be handled while sitting." 



Effgs. — The ^gg now before me measures 4 &-8 by 2 6-8 inches [120.6 by 69.8 

 mm.], is of an oblong form, smaller at one end than at the other. Both ends 

 are quite blunt. The surface of the shell is in character like a common hen's 

 egg. The color inclines to a light creamy white, with a ring of seemingly 

 fine spattered burnt sienna specks or spots, like those made by drawing a 

 brush of color across a stick, as a painter does to get the effect of granite. 

 They form a ring around the larger end, being about two inches across from 

 one side of the ring to the other. The center of the ring runs together in the 

 fine markings, making the color almost solid, and fades away from the outer 

 edge of the egg, almost to needles points. 



There are numerous eggs in various collections labeled yellow- 

 nosed albatross; but, as I have been unable to definitely determine 

 which are culminatus and which are chlororhynchus^ I shall not 

 attempt to describe or give the measurements of either species. 



PluTTiages. — I can not find any description of the downy young or 

 immature plumages, but Gould (1865) says that young birds "may 

 be easily distinguished from the adults, especially while flying, by 

 the darker coloring of their wings, back, and tail, and by the culmen 

 of the bill being less distinctly marked with yellow." 



Behavior. — Mr. John Treadwell Nichols has contributed the fol- 

 lowing notes on the behavior of this species : 



The yellow-nosed albatross is a common south temperate species coming about 

 ships at sea for the scraps from the galley. It can be easily caught with fish- 

 hook and salt pork. The tip of the hook catches under its upper mandible, and 

 If the line be held taut the bird may be hauled on deck along the surface of the 

 water, or through the air like a kite. Except rarely when It catches in the soft 

 parts of the mouth, the hook does not penetrate anything and if the line be 

 slackened drops out by itself ; but as a rule the bird foolishly braces back, stick- 

 ing its feet out in front of it, or setting Its wings, and is readily drawn inboard. 

 On deck it is stupid, helpless, unable to rise, and after a few minutes seems to 

 become dizzy from the vessel's motion. Its legs fall it so that it will often 

 squat instead of trying to stand, and with every appearance of seasickness It 

 regurgitates oily matter. Though generally silent, when being hauled aboard 

 I have heard it give a goose-like honking or grunting note. It rises from 

 the water with much awkward flapping, kicking, and splashing, especially In 

 light breezes, and when fairly launched sails on stiff, motionless wings, 

 occasionally giving them a few flaps, less frequently as the wind Increases In 

 force. In moderate breezes the wings are held quite widely extended ; in high 

 winds they are somewhat folded, exposing less surface. It sails straight away, 

 swinging into the air and then down close to the water, leaning to one side or 

 the other as it curves its course. Its flight is never high above the water, but 

 about the ship it rises somewhat higher than the smaller birds. Attracted by 

 food in the wake, it alights to seize it, but the wings are at such times often 

 held half raised over the back. Though adults are readily distinguishable, 

 young of this species and of the .spectacled albatross, the other common small 



