170 Macgillivray, Notes on Sea-Birds. [isf'Tan 



Albatrosses (Phcebetria fiisca) were seen to-day, and only of this 

 colour. Prions were numerous. Many Brown Petrels {Priofinus 

 cinereus) were about all day. The bill in these birds is dark and 

 the feet yellowish, and all the under surface below the eye white. 

 An all-black Petrel {Pterodroma macroptera ?) was seen occasion- 

 ally. At noon the ship was in lat. 39° 5' S., long. 35° 10' E., and 

 the nearest land was Prince Edward and Marion Islands. 



8th June. — Calm sea, with some swell ; cloudy and showery, 

 but not cold. Prion (sp. ?). — Several were still skimming the surface 

 of the ocean. Many Wandering Albatrosses showed all stages of 

 colouring. Some were all brown except the bill, with under wing 

 surface pale except the tips ; others more mottled ; others, again, 

 dirty white, with dark brown or black upper surface to wings 

 except for the white olecranal patch ; others, again, with ver- 

 miculated back and dark wings, and still others with pure white 

 backs and no vermiculations. Only a few Sooties were about ; 

 all were P.fitsca. Many Brown Petrels {P. cinereus) were to be seen. 

 A few Great-winged Petrels (P. macroptera) were still about. 



All these birds were to be seen scouting over the surface of the 

 sea, and numbers followed in the wake of the vessel. Any food 

 thrown overboard was immediately seen, and many of the birds 

 settled on the water to get it. As many as 20 birds were often 

 on the water scrambling for the same lot. The smaller Petrels 

 were soon ousted by the Albatrosses, and either stayed on the 

 outskirts to pick up any stray particle or gave it up and resumed 

 their chase of the ship. At times, when much food had been 

 thrown out, all the birds would be down together in successive 

 groups, and none left following ; but they soon caught up again, 

 one or two at a time, till all were following at greater or lesser 

 distances. In early morning there were very few birds in the 

 wake of the vessel, but the number increased as the day wore on. 

 It would seem that they leave the vessel at night, and are picked 

 up gradually from the surrounding sea during the day, as the 

 following mob was always much larger late in the afternoon. The 

 Prions never followed the vessel. At noon we were in lat. 

 39° 50' S., long. 40° 29' E. ; from the Cape, 1,135 miles ; equi- 

 distant from Marion Island and the Crozets. 



9th June. — Cold change, with fresher and more southerly wind. 

 Wandering Albatrosses {D. exnlans) were more numerous than 

 any other species. A few more Black-browed MoUymawks (T. 

 melanophrys) were about. One Elat-billed Albatross {T. chrys- 

 ostoma) followed at a distance ; all grey head and dark bill ; not 

 near enough to note particulars. Sooty Albatrosses (P. fiisca) 

 were about, and all were of this colour. At noon, lat. 40° 15' S., 

 long. 48° 52' E. Crozet Islands the nearest land. 



loth June. — Wind dropped, sea calmer ; dull, but slightly 

 warmer weather. Many Wandering Albatrosses {D. exnlans) were 

 in all stages of plumage. Some of the whiter ones had a rufous 

 wash on the head and neck. Several Black-browed MoUymawks 

 {T. melanophrys) were about. Sooties (P. fusca) were more 



