observed in the South Pacific Ocean. 595 



a dozen of these birds followed the steamer. The grey 

 about the head varies a good deal. In some the whole head 

 is grey, in others a strip of grey comes down and appears 

 almost to meet in a neck-band, leaving a white mask like an 

 OvvFs. These last were commoner than those with all-grey 

 heads, and there were gradations between. On Nov. 4 [ 

 noted foui*, and two or three were observable until Nov. 8, 

 on Avhich day the numbers increased to eight. On the 9th, 

 only a few were seen, and so till Nov. 12, when I noted six, 

 and that at least one had yellow right along the culmen to 

 the tip. Some of the others seemed to have darker bills 

 with less yellow ; probably these are age differences, seeing 

 that almost every bird showed individual variations in the 

 amount of grey on the head and neck. On the 13th I noted 

 two or three birds, none on the 14th, and one on the 15th. 

 Approaching Valparaiso, I saw a bird which was about the 

 size of this, but had a black bill and a pure white head. 



Phcebetria palpebrata. Light-mantled Sooty Albatros. 



These birds were not met with until we had passed the 

 Chatham Islands. On Oct. 39, at 12 noon, the first appeared ; 

 it was very noticeable in contrast with the Giant Petrels, 

 the Albatros, though of about the same size, showing 

 clearly the finer bill, lighter and more greyish body (the 

 head strikingly dark), and being altogether a slenderer, 

 handsomer, and more graceful bird, tapering away from 

 shoulder to pointed tail. The light mantle (contrasting 

 with the darker wings) is easily discernible at some little 

 distance, and as the bird gets closer, the white circlet of the 

 eye can plainly be seen. At 5 p.m. on the same day, two 

 were flying about the ship. Two were seen on the following 

 day, Oct. 30, and one on Oct. 31. On Nov. 1 I saw three, 

 the same number on Nov. 2, but from this date onward no 

 more were seen. 



Bruchigavia novae -hollandise. Silver Gull. 



A dozen or more flew about the ship when abreast of 

 Stephens Island, Cook Strait, their dark red-brown bills 

 contrasting with the clear yellow bills of Lurus domvnicunus. 



