,. 



Black albatross about to feed young. The food 

 consists of squid partially digested by the parent 



to see the youngsters tottering 

 -along and fanning their wings in a 

 futile attempt at flight. They 

 play and quarrel with one another 

 and amuse themselves by gather- 

 ing together any loose material 

 that may be near the nest. One 

 young bird had surrounded itself 

 with a pile of the bleached bones 

 of its dead ancestors. 



The black-footed albatross 

 (Diomedea nigripes) has taken al- 

 most complete possession along 

 the beaches on the north, east and 

 south sides of the island. An oc- 

 casional pair may be found nesting 

 with the white species, but as a 

 rule they are found by themselves. 



The black-footed albatross is 

 .somewhat larger than the white 

 species, and when seen on the 



some distance from its nest 

 to see if it would find its way 

 back; after it had recovered 

 from its fit of anger at being 

 disturbed, it slowly waddled 

 home. During the morning 

 hours, the old birds feed the 

 young, the food consisting 

 entirely of squid that have 

 been partly digested by the 

 parent. 



The young albatross was 

 wearing a coat of dark brown 

 down when we landed on the 

 island [about April 24] which 

 gave way a few weeks later 

 to the white feathers on the 

 breast and abdomen and the 

 dark feathers of the back and 

 wings. When the down has 

 nearly disappeared the young 

 bird begins to try its strength 

 by spreading the wings and 

 rising on its feet like the 

 adult birds. It is laughable 



Black albatross singing 191 



