76 Dr. O. Finsch’s Ornithological 
is not only made to rotate as a whole, so that the different 
views follow each other, but the chief representatives of it 
are also in motion: the Wocdpecker hammers; the Dipper 
dives; the Ducks swim, and so on. This gives the whole a 
Marionette-like character, which of course is very attractive 
to the greater part of the visitors. The “‘ Zoographicon”’ is 
always crowded ! 
The Menagerie in Woodward’s Garden excels that of some 
of the smaller gardens in Germany, and contained some birds 
seen alive by me for the first time, e. g. Anser albatus, Alca 
cirrata, and Diomedea brachyura. The last-named species I 
saw afterwards in free nature. We left San Francisco in the 
‘City of New York’ for Honolulu on June 9th. The bay was 
swarming with Gulls (Larus occidentalis) and Uria californica, 
the latter reminding one in its manners of the flocks of its 
smaller relative (Mergulus alle), which we had met with on 
the Atlantic when passing the banks on the 2nd and 5rd of 
May. But Mergulus is much more lively than Uria! As 
we approached the gigantic rocky islands (the Farralones), 
the Gulls increased in number, and flocks of Mormon cirrata 
were passing by. They make a very striking appearance in 
bird-life, and are easily recognizable by their red bills, and 
yellow ear-tufts. We had scarcely lost sight of the Farralones 
when the first Albatrosses made their appearance. There 
were first two, then four, a short while after twelve, behind 
the steamer, quarrelling with the Gulls over the refuse from 
the kitchen thrown overboard. ‘The next day (June 10) 
Guils had disappeared, and Albatrosses were the only visitors 
near the steamer. They were all Diomedea brachyura, and 
were all young birds in the uniform dark-brown garb of im- 
maturity. Some specimens were changing plumage, showing 
more or less of a white band and white rump and lower tail- 
coverts ; some were light-coloured beneath, below the breast. 
These Albatrosses were to be seen every hour of the day in 
smaller or larger numbers, varying from four to forty, 
careering around the vessel even after sunset. The flight of 
these birds is very fine; they seem to swim above the water, 
and often for a long while do not move the wings at all. 
