BULLER. 
On the Occurrence of the Shy Albatros in the North Island, 217 
ArT. XXV.— Notice of the Occurrence of the Shy Albatros (Diomedea cauta) 
in the North Island. By Warrer L. Buuurr, C.M.G., Sc.D., F.L.S. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 22nd September, 1877.] 
In a paper on New Zealand Ornithology which I had the honour of 
reading before this Society in September, 1876, I mentioned, on. the 
authority of Captain Hutton, that a specimen of the shy albatros ( Diomedea 
cauta) had been obtained at Blueskin Bay in Otago, thus adding a sixth 
“species to the list of albatroses inhabiting our seas. I have now much 
pleasure in exhibiting another specimen of this fine bird, which was captured 
on the beach near the Wellington pilot station on the 12th July, and 
brought to me alive by Mr. James A. Capper of Molesworth Street. The 
fishermen by whom it was caught informed him that it had apparently been 
shot at sea and allowed to float ashore, the right wing being completely 
disabled, but that they had nevertheless considerable trouble in overtaking 
it before it reached the water. 
This example proved on dissection to be a female, and as I have not 
before had an opportunity of examining this rare species in a fresh state, I 
think it is desirable to place on record in our “Transactions” a full 
description of it. 
Fem. ad.—Fronte et vertice cinerascenti-albis: pileo colloque totis 
pulehré cinereo lavatis: regione ante- et super-oculari einerascenti-nieris * 
dorso et interscapulio cum ala tota cinerascenti-nigris : uropygio, supra- 
caudalibus albis : remigibus brunnescenti-nigris, scapis ad basin flavicanti- 
albidis, secundariis versüs apicem brunnescenté tinctis: cauda saturate 
argentescenti-cinerea, seapis albidis: subtüs purè albus: subalaribus albis, 
plumis exterioribus nigricantibus: iride lete vinascenti-brunnea: pedibus 
sordidé corneo-albicantibus, tarsis saturatioribus: rostro cyanescenti- 
corneo, ad apicem sordidé nigro, culmine medialiter et gonyde obscuré 
flavicantibus, ad basin conspicué nigro marginatis: margine ad basin 
mandibule lete flava. 
Adult Female,—The whole of the head and neck delicate pearl-grey, 
shading off almost to white on the crown and forehead; lores and a line 
over each eye greyish-black, shading off below into the pearl-grey ; back and 
upper surface of wings greyish-brown ; rump, tail-coverts, and the whole of 
the under parts pure white, softly blending with the grey on the lower 
foreneck ; quills brownish-black, the shafts whitish horn-colour towards the 
base, the longer secondaries tinged with sepia-brown; tail-feathers dark 
silvery-grey, with white shafts, and paler on the under-surface ; lining of 
wings white, some of the feathers towards the edge of the wing greyish- 
black; irides rich vinous brown; feet dull fleshy white, the tarsi darker; 
Bl 
