THE ALBATROSSES 



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fore part of the back, where the tips of the feathers are nearly white; the wings and 

 tail are dark slaty; the beak, with the exception of the grooves, is black, and the 

 legs and feet are pale reddish. In all the species the young, after passing the white 

 downy stage, are more or less sooty in color; so that in coloration the sooty albatross 

 is one of the least specialized forms. 



The name albatross, it may be observed, is a corruption of the Span- 

 ish word albatraz, meaning a gannet; and was applied to these birds 

 by the old voyagers, in conformity with that propensity to designate newly- 

 discovered creatures by familiar titles, which is so characteristic of the uneducated. 

 All these birds are strictly oceanic in their habits, rarely visiting the land except 



Habits 



ALBATROSSES NESTING. 



(One-eighth natural size.) 



for the purpose of breeding, and then selecting remote islands, like Tristan da 

 Cunha, or even isolated rocks. Much has been written in regard to the flight of 

 the wandering albatross, but, according to Moseley, these birds are by no means 

 beautiful objects when seen following in the wake of a vessel, as the long and nar- 

 row wings seem out of proportion to the body, while five out of every six birds ob- 

 served are in the brown immature plumage, and look dirty and draggled. After 

 referring to the marvelous powers of flight of the species just mentioned, Gould ob- 

 serves, that although during calm or moderate weather, this splendid bird ' ' some- 



