observed in ilie Suulh Padjic Ocean. 593 



Prion (? genera Pachyptila, Pseudoprion, Heteroprion). 



Oct. 25, one seen at 5 p.m. Oct. 27, abreast of Stephens 



Island, Cook Strait, I saw hundreds of Prions, most of them 



small, with liglit backs, and one larger, with a dark back ; 



also two or three small ones, which flew with grebe-like rapid 



wing-beats, not swallow-like as the larger ones. Oct. 28 



(No. 1), a good number seen at 9 a.m., and at 2 p.m. there 



were thousands of Prions in every direction about the ship, 



often fifty to a hundred on the water in a bunch together. 



Towards evening we left them behind. Oct. 28 (No. 2), a 



couple seen at 9 a.m. At 2.30 p.m. several noted. Oct. 29, 



twenty or more in one lot. Oct. 30, at noon a large number 



were following with other species in the ship's wake : they 



were also numerous in front and at the sides of the ship, 



and were easily the commonest bird from Cook Strait to 



this point. Oct. 31, countless Prions all about the ship. 



At 4 P.M. they seemed chiefly to be making west, opposite 



to the ship^s direction. I judge that there are innumerable 



millions of Prions in these seas. They harmonise well with 



the sea-scape, their backs being blue-grey, the colour of the 



southern Pacific waves, and their bellies, as they turn in tlie 



sun, are white as the foam that breaks on the waves' edges 



beneath them. Nov. 1, only a few about in place of yester- 



day^s great numbers, and this was also the case on every day 



till Nov. 12, on which day I did not see any. Thereafter, 



until reaching port on Nov. 16, I saw odd birds every day. 



Diomedea exulans, Wandering Albatros. 



Oct. 23 (off Sydney), numerous. Oct. 24, more seen. 

 Some Avere all dark brown but for the belly and head : these 

 divided below by a broad pectoral band of brown. Oct. 26, 

 only eight following astern in the early morning; at 12.35 

 the number suddenly increased to fifteen or more as garbage 

 was thrown over. Oct. 27, about twelve round the ship. 

 Oct. 28 (No. 1), four seen. Oct. 28 (No. 2), one following 

 in the wake. Oct. 29, one following, later one or two more : 

 I note that some are white only on the middle of the back, 

 others right to the centre joint of the wings. Oct. 30, three 



