Vol. XIX. "1 >r Acc.ii.i.iVRAV, Notes nil Sea-Birds, i6q 



mid-day the proportion of Wandering Albatrosses had markedly 

 increased. Most ot tluni were in adult plumage — pale whitish 

 bill and legs, back vermiculated, head, neck, tail coverts, all under 

 surface white, except the tips of primaries ; upper surface of 

 wings white, except for some mottling of the secondaries ; 

 primaries and tail dark. The Flat-billed Albatross {T. chrysostoma) 

 was seen ; upper surface and neck were grey ; head lighter ; under 

 surface white ; under surface of wings white, central bordered 

 with broader black border than in the Black-browed Mollymawk 

 {T. melanophrys). This bird was also larger than the Black- 

 browed Mollymawk. Late in the afternoon there were many 

 Wandering Albatrosses, several being in immature dress. At 

 noon we were in lat. 36° 30' S., long. 23° 40' E., and 333 miles 

 from Capetown. 



On the bth June many Wandering Albatrosses were following 

 the ship all day, more than on any day yet, mostly in mature 

 plumage, Init also a few in immature dress at various stages. 

 Black-browed Mollymawk {T. melanophrys). — Only a few of these 

 birds — fewer than on the previous day. Late in the afternoon a 

 Sooty Albatross {Phoebetria fusca) put in an appearance, and 

 before dark there were several ; all were sooty-brown all over. 

 These were the first " Sooties " to be seen on this trip. Prion 

 (sp. ?). — These birds were seen at intervals all day, flying rapidly 

 over the surface of the waves. A dark Petrel, with dark bill and 

 legs, was seen occasionally ; possibly it was the Great-winged 

 Petrel {Pterodroma macroptera). Several Brown Petrels {Priofiniis 

 cinereus) were flying over the surface of the sea or following the 

 ship ; upper surface all grey — neck being lighter than the head 

 and body ; face, cheeks, and chin dark grey, under surface of wings 

 grey ; throat, neck, breast, abdomen, and under tail coverts 

 white. These birds became more numerous as the day wore on. 

 The Cape Petrel [Petrella capensis) made its first appearance for 

 the voyage. It is, seen on the wing, a conspicuously black and 

 white bird, quite different from any other sea-bird. A Ternlet 

 followed the ship for about an hour before darkness set in ; dark 

 grey upper surface, with a darker grey head and white under 

 surface. The weather was quite warm, and the Agullhas current 

 was crossed in the forenoon. At noon we were in lat. iS"-' 5' S., 

 long. 29° 49' E., 637 miles from Cape Town. 



7th June. — Sea much calmer, moderate following breeze, some 

 swell ; sunny day. Many Wandering Albatrosses {D. exulans) 

 were seen ; most of them had the upper surface of the wings dark, 

 with the white olecranal patch. To-day, however, there are a 

 few very white Snowy Albatrosses {D. exulans chionoptera) about 

 with nearly the whole of the upper surface of the wings white, 

 except the primaries. Some of the immature birds are wholly 

 dark brown, except the bill, which is whitish, and the under 

 surface of the wings, which is a dirty white, except the ti])s, which 

 are dark brown. Others, again, arc a mottled brown all over, 

 except the head, which is much lighter in-own. N't'ry Irw Sooty 



