THE BIRD BOOK 



82.1. LAYSAN ALBATROSS. 

 mutabilis. 



Diomedea im- 



Laysan Albatross 



Yellow-nosed Albatross 

 Sooty Albatross 



Range. Laysan Island of the Hawaiian Group, 

 appearing casually off the coast of California. 

 This species breeds in large numbers on the is- 

 land 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 lit- 

 tle molested in their remote island, are exceeding- 

 ly 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 1913 Bulletin of the Fish Com- 

 mission, the report being illustrated with numer- 

 ous illustrations of the birds from photos by the 

 author. Their single white eggs are laid on the 

 bare ground. 



[83.] YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS. 



Tlialassogeron culminatus. 



This is a species which inhabits the South Pa- 

 cific and Indian Oceans, and is said to rarely oc- 

 cur on the California coast. They breed during 

 our winter on some of the small islands and dur- 

 ing our summer are ocean wanderers. An egg in 

 the collection of Col. John E. Thayer was taken on 

 Gough Island, South Atlantic Ocean; Sept. 1st, 

 1888. The nest was a mound of mud and grass 

 about two feet in height. The single white egg 

 measured 3.75 x 2.25. It was collected by George 

 Comer. 



84. SOOTY ALBATROSS Phoebetria-palpebrata. 



Range. Southern seas, north in our summer along the Pacific coast of the 

 United States. 



This species is entirely sooty brown except the white eyelids. It is similar 

 to the Black-footed Albatross from which species it can be distinguished in 

 all plumages by the narrow base of the bill, while the bill of the former species 

 is broad and rounded. They breed commonly on isolated islands in many 

 quarters of the southern hemisphere. Sometimes this species constructs a 

 mound of mud on which to deposit its single white egg, and also often lays 

 it on the bare ground or rock. A specimen in Mr. Thayer's collection, taken 

 by Geo. Comer on So. Georgia Is. in the South Atlantic ocean, was laid in a 

 hollow among loose stones on the ledge of an overhanging cliff. Size 4.10 x 

 2.75. 



60 



