2. THALASSOGERON. 449 



2. THALASSOGERON *. 



Type. 



Thalassogeron, Ridgway in Ilnird, Brew., ^- liidyw. 



Water-Birds N. Am. ii. pp. .'Mo, 357 (1884) T. culminatus. 



Thalassarche, Forbes, Zool.Chall. E.vp. iv. pt. xi. p. 57 



(1882) {tiec Reichenhach). 

 Diomedea, Reich. Syst. Av., Lonffip. pi. iii. (1852). 



Range. Southern Oceans. 



Key to tlie Species. 



a. Culmen in adult bright yellow, sides of the 



bill black. 

 a'. Culmiuicorn rounded posteriorly; loweredge 



of the mandible yellow culminatus, p. 451. 



b'. Culminicorn pointed posteriorly ; base of the 



mandible yellow, but not the lower edge . chlurorhpichus, p. 451. 



b. Bill generally pale, the sides not black, and the 



culmen not distinctly yellow, 

 c'. Whole head and neck nearly pure white. 



a". Bill very stout ; tarsi and toes longer. . cautua, p. 449. 



b' '. Bill more slender ; tarsi and toes shorter layardi, p. 450. 

 d'. Whole head and neck (except the white 



crown) grey salvini, p. 450. 



1. Thalassogeron cautus. 



Diomedea cauta, Gould, P. Z. S. 1840, p. 177 ; id. Ann. ^- Mag. N. H. 

 xiii. p. 360 (1844) ; id. Birds Austr. vii. pi. 40 (1844) ; id. Kandb. 

 Birds Austr. ii. p. 434 (1865) ; Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. B-'iO 

 (1844) ; Reich. Av. Syst., Natatores, pi. 29. figs. 799-800 (1850) ; 

 Bp. Consp. Av. ii. p. 184 (1855); id. C'o7npt. Rend. xlii. p. 708 

 (18.56) ; Schl. Mus. P.-B., vi. Procell. p. 34 (1863) ; Cones, 

 Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, pp. 183, 188 ; Cab. S,- Reichenow, J. f. Orn. 

 1876, p. 328 ; le Soiief, Ibis, 1895, p. 413. 



Thalassarche cauta, Giql. Faun. Vert. Oceano,]). 58 (1870) ; id. Viang, 

 'Magenta; pp. 736,*800, 841 (1875). 



Thalassogeron cautus, Ridyiv. Man. N. Am. Birds, p. 53 (1887). 



Adult male. Head, neck, lower back, upper tail-coverts, whole 



* The following Albatros has recently been described by Mr. G. E. Verrill 

 from specimens obtained by Mr. Comer from Gough Island in the South 

 Atlantic Ocean : — 



Thalassogeron eximius. 

 Thalassogeron exiuiius, G. E. Verrill, Tr. Connect. Ac. ix. p. 440, pi. 8. 

 figs. 1, 2 (1895). 



" Sp. char. Similar in plumage to T. chlororhynchus, but the lower mandible 

 lacks completely the transverse yellow bar at its base, and is entirely black, 

 except at the extreme outer end, where it is slightly tipped with light liorn- 

 colour. The bright yellow of the culinen begins almost at its extreme base, 

 and gradually deepens and brightens into orange in the middle, and finally 

 into dull red on the unguis, growing paler towards the tip. Sides and back Jf 

 head pale ash-grey, forehead white. No dark spot behind tiie eye. Tarsus, 

 tail, and two outer toes longer than in T. chlororhynchus, and bill somewhat 

 deeper at the base. Wing 19'25 inches, tail S-.^, tarsus 305-307, culmen 

 4-40-4(>2, middle toe and claw 4'44-449, outer toe and claw 4.'}2-4'3o." 

 (G. B:. Verrill, I. s. c.) 



Gough I., breeding. 



In the paper the bird is described in greater detail. 



VOL. XXV. 2 G 



