328 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS. 



this bird, I have taken the liberty of giving it a name, being well as- 

 sured that, should it prove to have been described, some person will 

 kindly correct my mistake. 



DiOMEDEA NIGEIPES. 



Male. 



Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, stout, compressed. Up- 

 per mandible with its dorsal outline straight and declinate until near 

 the middle, when it becomes a little concave, and along the unguis 

 cm^es in the third of a circle, the ridge convex, very broad and con- 

 vex at the base, with its basal margin ciu*ved in the third of a circle, 

 the ridge separated in its whole length by a groove, margined below 

 by a prominent line, from the sides, which are prominently convex, the 

 edges sharp, the xmguis decurved, strong, acute, with the sides a little 

 convex. Nostrils sub-basal, prominent, tubular, having a horny sheath. 

 Lower mandible with the angle narrow, reaching to the tip, and ha- 

 ving at its extremity a slender horny interposed process ; the outline of 

 the crura gently ascending, slightly convex, toward the end a little con- 

 cave, at the tip deflected, the sides ascending and considerably convex, 

 but at the base concave, the edges sharp and inflexed, the tip compres- 

 sed, its upper edges decurved. 



Head rather large, ovate, anteriorly compressed ; neck of moderate 

 length ; body full. Feet rather short, stoutish ; tibia bare for an inch 

 and ten-twelfths, reticulated all round with very small convex scales ; 

 tarsus rather slender, covered all roimd with small roundish convex 

 scales ; toes three, long, slender, for half their length covered above 

 with transverse series of flat scales, in the rest of their extent scutel- 

 late ; the second ten-twelfths of an inch shorter than the middle, which 

 is scarcely longer than the outer. Claws rather small, slender, slightly 

 arched, rather compressed, somewhat obtuse. 



Plumage full, soft and blended. Wings very long and very nar- 

 row, the humerus and cubitus being extremely elongated ; the first pri- 

 mary longest, the rest rapidly diminishing ; secondaries extremely short. 

 Tail of twelve rounded feathers, extremely short, rounded, the lateral 

 feathers one inch shorter than the middle. 



Bill dusky, the greater part of the lower mandible, and the middle 

 of the upper, tinged with yellowish-brown. Feet and claws black. The 



