r 
DIOMEDEA EXULANS. 771 
brought thence by Captain Nolloth, of H.M. steamer “ Frolic,” and 
now in the South African Museum, is of a dull white, minutely 
spotted with brown at the obtuse end: axis, 5’; diam., 3’ 3”. We 
were on that island at Christmas, many years ago; but woe still 
retain a vivid recollection of the marvellous number of albatrosses 
of all kinds which we encountered on our arriving in that neigh- 
bourhood, and of the thousands that we found sailing about the 
singular peak, looking at that great altitude (8326 feet) like mere 
specks in the sky. Eggs have been brought to us by Captain 
Armson from the Crozette Islands. This gentleman informs us 
that they make no nest, but simply lay in a depression in the soil 
caused by their frequenting the same spot for many successive 
years. He tells us that the young birds remain for several months in 
the nest, not eating anything, that he could ascertain, the parent 
birds having long left the islands. However, this statement, though 
made in full sincerity, may not represent the facts of the case. We 
know that a few hundred miles of flight would be nothing to a bird 
of such vast powers as the albatross. Nocturnal visits may there- 
fore be made to the young, and entirely escape detection. This 
appears to us a likely solution of the difficulty. 
Since the above was written, we have spoken to many of the 
sealers frequenting these islands. They declare that the albatrosses 
visit their young daily, and turn them off the nests when the next 
breeding season comes round. 
Mr. Andersson gives the following note: “The thirtieth degree 
of south latitude has been assigned as the northern limit of the 
Great Wandering Albatross; but I have frequently met with them 
off the coast two or three degrees further north. They are generally 
observed at sea from April to October; during the rest of the year 
few or none are to be seen, certainly none of the old birds, which 
retire at that season to their breeding-places at the Island of Tristan 
d’Acunha, Prince Edward’s Island, and the south-eastern part of 
Kerguelen’s Land.” 
Adult: general colour pure white, mottled minutely on the back 
_ with wavy black lines; wings black and white, mottled ; tail spotted 
with black. Young: dull brown, with white face and neck. 
Length, 3’ 9"; wing, 2’; tail, 12”. 
Fig. Gould, B. Austr. vii, pl. 38. 
