aNseres. 83 



" The powers of flight of the Wandering Albatros are much 

 greater than those of any other bird that has come under my observa- 

 tion. Although during cahn or moderate weather it sometimes rests 

 on the surface of the water^, it is almost constantly on the wing, and 

 is equally at ease while passing over the glassy surface during the 

 stillest calm, or flying with meteor-like swiftness before the most 

 furious gale ; and the manner in which it just tops the raging billows 

 and sweeps between the gulfy waves has a hundred times called forth 

 my wonder and admiration. Although a vessel running before the 

 wind frequently sails more than two hundred miles in the twenty-four 

 hours, and that for days together, still the Albatros has not the 

 slightest difficulty in keeping up with the ship, but also performs 

 circles of many miles in extent, returning again to hunt up the wake 

 of the vessel for any substances thrown overboard." — Gould. 



120. Diomedea melanophrys. -Soie. 



MoLLTJiAWK. Black-etebeowed Albatbos. 

 White, with the back, wings, aud tail, and a line through the eye, blact ; bill, light 

 yellow. 



L., 34; W., 20; B., 4-25 ; T., 3-25. 



" This species of Albatros is far more common in our seas than 

 Diomedea exulans, and approaches nearer to the coast, often following 

 a vessel to the very entrance of the harbours. After boisterous 

 weather it is sometimes picked up on the ocean-beach, not actually 

 lifeless, but so exhausted by fatigue as to be incapable of rising." — 



BULLER. 



121. Diomedea chlororhyncha. Qml. 



Yellow-nosed Albateos. 

 Like the last ; but the bill is black, with the upper ridge bright-yellow. 

 L., 34; W., 19; B., 45 ; T., 3. 



122. Diomedea culminata. Gould. 



Geey-headed Albateos. 

 Like the last, but the bill is yellow on both the upper and lower edges. 

 Young. — Head and ueek, grey ; yellow on bill, obscure. 

 L., 32 ; W., 20 ; B., 415 ; T., 3. 



123. Diomedea fuliginosa. Gml. 



Cape Hen. Sooty Albateos. 



Blackish-brown, darkest on the face ; back and abdomen, grey, lightest on the shoul- 

 ders ; tail, wedge-shaped ; bill, black, with a blue line on the lower mandible ; feet, yellow. 

 Tlie young are entirely blackish-brown. 



L., 28 ; W., 21 ; B., 4 5 ; T., 3. 



-%Z/-— White ; length, 4-2 ; breadth, 2-5. (Layard.) 



" There is a specimen of this Albatros in the Auckland Museum ; 

 and Dr. Crosbie, of H.]M.S. ''Virago,' showed me the head of another, 

 6* 



