BuLLER. — On a New SiJccies of Albatros. 238 



Captain Fairchild, of the "Hinemoa," who has for some 

 years past made a close study of the Alhatros on its breeding- 

 grounds, has long maintained that there are two species. Till 

 very recently he was of opinion that the large white-headed 

 form was only to be found breeding on Campbell Island and 

 other places to the south of the Auckland Islands. Until his 

 last cruise, indeed, he had never found it breeding anywhere 

 but on Campbell Island, whilst the common species appeared 

 to have exclusive possession of the Auckland Islands, Antipodes 

 Island, and the other islands to the north ; and he had always 

 found this species nesting four or five weeks earlier than the 

 •other — that is to say, the Campbell Island bird commenced to 

 lay about the end of ^ December, and the Auckland Island bird 

 about the first week in February : in other words, Diomedca 

 ■exulans was commencing to lay in the Auckland Islands just 

 when the larger species was hatcliing out its young further 

 south. On his recent visit, however, to the last-named group, 

 Captain Fairchild found a colony of Diomedca regia nesting 

 there, but occupying a separate locality, and quite apart from 

 Dlomcdea exulans. Here, too, in the Auckland Islands, the 

 same difference in the breeding - time was observable, for, 

 whilst the nests of Diomedca regia contained young birds, 

 the other species was only just preparing to lay. On the 

 7th February a nest of the latter was discovered con- 

 taining two eggs (a most unusual occurrence), but all 

 the other nests were empty, or occupied by the young 

 bird of the former season. Marvellous as it may appear, it is 

 perfectly true that the young birds never leave the breeding- 

 ground till their parents return to refit their nests for another 

 brood. This is the account of it, amply authenticated, given 

 by Mr. Harris, as quoted by Professor Hutton : " At a certain 

 time of the year between February and June — Mr. Harris 

 cannot exactly say when — the old bh-ds leave their young 

 and go to sea, and do not return until the next October, 

 when they arrive in large numbers. ]:]ac]i pair goes at 

 ■once to its old nest, and, after a little fondling of the 

 young one, which has remained in or near the nest the 

 whole time, they turn it out and prepare the nest for the next 

 brood. The deserted young ones are in good condition and 

 very lively, frequently being seen off their nests exercising 

 their wings. When the old birds return and take possession 

 of their nest, the young one often remains outside and nibbles 

 at the head of the old one until the feathers between the beak 

 and the eye are removed and the skin made quite sore. The 

 young birds do not go far from land until the following year, 

 when they accompany the old ones to sea." The fact is that 

 when the young are left in the nest at the close of the breeding- 

 ■season they are so innnensely fat thai tliey can subsist for 



