164 Macgillivrav, Noles on Sea-Bivds. [,s!^"ian 



of South Afiica, must have a different breeding-place from that 

 of the bird which is equally common in the Australian Bight. 

 The Yellow-billed Mollymawk {Nealbatrus chlororhynchus) breeding 

 in immense colonies on Tristan d'Acunha, and represented by a 

 few specimens in Cape waters, is widely separated from the same 

 species found near Adelaide, as this species was not met with 

 at any distance from either country. The Australian species 

 must have an Australasian nesting-place, probably south of 

 Tasmania or New Zealand. 



The Wandering Albatross {Diomedea exulans) was noted in many 

 stages of plumage ; but my observations, I think, tend to confirm 

 Mr. Mathews's opinions as to the distribution of this species. I 

 would like, however, to direct attention to those specimens, 

 presumably of the Snowy Albatross {D. chionoptera) observed with 

 the rusty or buff wash on the head and neck, such as is supposed 

 to characterize Steller's Albatross, an inhabitant of the North 

 Pacific. 



With regard to the frequent assertion that these birds follow 

 a ship day after day, I could not satisfy myself that this was the 

 case ; it seemed to me that we picked them up as we went along 

 from the surrounding waters. Early in the morning very few 

 only were usually in attendance ; these were added to as the day 

 wore on, until towards evening a larger number was always 

 following, and individual birds could often be seen to go off over 

 the ocean till lost to sight, and others to come in and follow with 

 the numerous company. There were always more birds at 

 meal times when scraps of food were being thrown out from the 

 galleys. 



Leaving Melbourne on the transport Benalla, we cleared Port 

 Phillip Heads on the evening of 12th May, 1917. Very heavy 

 weather was experienced till the vicinity of Cape Leeuwin was 

 reached, and bird-observing did not interest me very much. The 

 Wandering Albatross [D. exulans) was noted, also the Sooty 

 Albatross {Phcebetria fusca), one of the latter being noted with a 

 white neck, but more common than any was the Black- 

 browed Mollymawk (Thalassarche melanophrys). A Storm-Petrel, 

 probably Oceanites oceanicus exasperatits, was occasionally seen, 

 and a Prion (sp. ?) Towards the western end of the Bight several 

 dark Petrels, possibly the long-winged Fulmar or a Shearwater, 

 were seen, and one specimen of the Yellow-nosed Mollymawk 

 {Thalassogeron chlororhynchos bassi). 



Leaving Fremantle on the 24th May, we steamed in a W.N.W. 

 direction ; no birds were seen all day. On the following day the 

 Wilson or Yellow-webbed Storm-Petrel {Oceanites oceanicus 

 exasperatus) was again noted, and late in the evening a dark 

 Petrel, which, from the manner of its flight, was possibly a 

 Shearwater. No birds were seen till 30th May, in lat. 27° S., long. 

 95° E., when several Petrels about as large as a Shearwater 

 appeared ; the upper surface of body and wings was dark brown, 

 under wings lighter brown, and the under surface of body pure 

 white. Possibly it was the Soft-pkmiaged Petrel {Pterodroma 



