46 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



81. Black-footed Albatross. Diomedea nigripes. 



Range. North Pacific from California northward. This Albatross is thirty- 

 two inches in length ; it is of a uniform sooty brown color shading into whitish 

 at the base of the bill, which is rounded. Like the other members of the family, 

 this species is noted for its extended flights, following vessels day after day 

 without any apparent period of rest, for the purpose of feeding on the refuse that 

 is thrown overboard. They breed during our winter on some of the small 

 isolated islands in the extreme southern portions of the globe. They lay a single 

 white egg on the bare ground. 



82. Short-tailed Albatross. Diomedea albatr us. 



Range. North Pacific Ocean in summer, from Lower California to Alaska. 

 With the exception of the Wandering Albatross, which is now regarded as 

 doubtful as occurring off our coasts, the Short-tailed Albatross is one of the 

 largest of the group, measuring thirty-six inches in length, and has an extentof 

 seven feet or more. With the exception of the black primaries, shoulders and 

 tail, the entire plumage is white, tinged with straw color on the back of the head. 

 They breed on the guano islands in the North Pacific off the coasts of Alaska and 

 Japan. They lay a single white egg on the bare ground or rocks. As with the 

 other members of the family, the eggs are extremely variable in size, but aver- 

 age about 4.25 x 2.50. 



82.1. Laysan Albatross. Diomedea immutab il is. 



Range. Laysan Island of the Hawaiian Group, appearing casually off the 

 coast of California. This species breeds in large numbers on the island from 

 which it takes its name. The birds are white with the exception of the back, 

 wings and tail, which are black. The birds, having been little molested in their 

 remote island, are exceedingly tame, and it is possible to go among the sitting 

 birds without disturbing them. Mr. Walter K. Fisher has contributed an 

 admirable report on this species in the 1903 Bulletin of the Fish Commission, 

 the report being illustrated with numerous illustrations of the birds from photos 

 by the author. Their single white eggs are laid on the bare ground. 



[83.] Yellow-nosed Albatross. Thalassogenni rnhnindtus. 



This is a species which inhabits the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, and is 

 said to rarely occur on the California coast. They breed during our winter on 

 some of the small islands and during our summer are ocean wanderers. An egg 



