ALBATROSSES. 



521 



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 colour ; 

 so that in coloration the sooty albatross is one of the least specialised forms. 



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

 Spanish 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 un- 

 educated. All these birds are strictly oceanic in their habits, rarely visiting the 



Habits. 



ALBATI108SES NESTING (J nat. size). 



land except 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 narrow wings seem out of proportion to the body, while five out of every 

 six birds observed are in the brown immature plumage, and look dirty and 

 draggled. After referring to the marvellous powers of flight of the species just 

 mentioned, Gould observes, that although during calm or moderate weather, this 

 splendid bird " sometimes rests on the surface of the water, it is almost constantly 

 on the wing — and is equally at ease while passing over the glassy surface during 

 the stillest calm, or flying with meteor-like swiftness before the most furious gale ; 



