246 Ferguson, Observations on Albatrosses at Sea [isf April 



birds seen off the Cape of Good Hope. The first specimen was 

 observed in the South Atlantic Ocean the day before we passed 

 the Cape ; subsequently five others were seen off the Cape. All 

 agreed in having the dark coloration of the wings extending up to 

 the body. No differences could be detected in the bills of the 

 different races ; all were of a pale fleshy pink, with yellow nail. 

 No observations were made on the colour of the eyelids. 



Thalassarche melanophrys, Temm. {Diomedea melanophrys, Temm.) 



Sub-species : — 



T. melanophrys melanophrys, Temm. : Cape seas. 



T. melanophrys belcheri, Mathews : Kerguelen. 



T. melanophrys impavida, Mathews : Australia and New 



Zealand. 

 T. melanophrys richmondi, Mathews : South America. 



Mathews distinguishes these sub-species by differences in the 

 size and coloration of the bill, in the grey loral wash, and in the 

 extent of the dark mark over the eye. These differences are, 

 however, not readily distinguishable at sea. No very young birds 

 were observed, but evidences of immaturity were seen in a number 

 of specimens. These evidences consisted of a dark yellowish- 

 brown bill with darker tip, under wings with the light colour 

 forming a narrower band and darker grey in colour, and of a dark 

 mark descending from the mantle on either side of the neck. 

 The colour of the bill appeared to be the last evidence of im- 

 maturity to disappear. An immature specimen was noted off 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and was probably referable to the first 

 sub-species. A second specimen, fully adult, was seen on the 

 loth of January in 41° S. 51° E. From 13th January to i8th 

 January either one or two were seen daily. When two were 

 present they always were an adult and an immature bird. It is, 

 therefore, possible that the same two birds followed us during this 

 time. The course run between these dates was from 73° E. to 

 107° E., and these birds are, therefore, probably referable to T. 

 melanophrys belcheri. On the 21st January these birds were 

 again seen, and became very numerous. The vessel was now to 

 the south of Australia. The species appears to be most abundant 

 in the Great Australian Bight ; on both occasions of crossing the 

 Bight this species was the commonest bird seen. On the east 

 coast of Australia they are less numerous, but I have seen several 

 specimens. On the west coast I have noted this species as far 

 north as Cape Naturaliste. The species is also very common in 

 the Southern Ocean, between Hobart and New Zealand. 



Thalassogeron chrysostoma, Forster {Diomedea culminata. Gould). 



Sub-species : — 



T. chrysostoma chrysostoma, Forster : Cape seas. 



T. chrysostoma harterti, Mathews : South Indian Ocean. 



T. chrysostoma culminatiis, Gould : Australia. 



T. chrysostoma mathewsi, Rothsch. : New Zealand. 



