THE ALBATROSS. 383 



comes a plumbo-atro or lead-coloured black ; the 

 first pen-feather is the longest, which differs from 

 the usual character in this genus ; the pen-fea- 

 thers decrease gradatim from the first ; irides 

 brownish ; a black mark from half an inch be- 

 fore the inner and upper part of the eyes, behind 

 and above the outer angle of the eyes ; eyelids 

 black ; the base of the upper mandible black, as 

 well as the termination of both mandibles ; the 

 remainder of the mandibles of an olive green, 

 with delicate black tints ; wings same length, 

 when closed, as the extremes of the tail ; quills 

 of the pen-feathers white ; skin dark-coloured ; a 

 quantity of fine down between the skin and the 

 feathers ; base of the feathers white ; feet flesh- 

 coloured, with bluish tints ; the circulation of 

 the venous and arterial system is beautifully seen 

 ramifying over the web ; nails of the toes short, 

 and slightly covered outwards in one, and in- 

 wards in the opposite foot ; the cuticle of the 

 feet is readily abraded when it is placed on a 

 hard surface, even for a short period of time ; 

 the web of the foot thick, and it is usual for 

 sailors to make purses, as they term them, by ex- 

 tracting the phalanges, without injuring the web, 

 leaving the claws at the extremities. 



The measurement of the specimen (which was 

 a male) was as follows : — 



