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. 

































ALBATROSSES NESTING (4 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 ; 
