Order ANSERES.] 



[Fam. PEOCELLAEIID^ 



Oudbb 



a: 



DIOMEDEA rULIGINOSA. 



(SOOTY ALBATROS.) 



Sooty Alhatrosy Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 309 (1785). 

 Biomedea fuliginosa^ Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 568 (1788). 

 Biomedea spadicea^ Lesson, Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 391 (1828). 

 Biomedea fusca^ Aud. Om. Biogr. v. p. 116 (1839). 

 Biomedea palpebrata^ Forst. Descr. An. p. 55 (1844). 

 Phwhetria fuliginosa^ Eeich. Natiirl. Syst. ^og, p. v (1852). 



Native name. — Torea-pango. 



Ad. fuliginoso-cinerenSj alis caud^que saturatioribus : facie lateral! nigricante : fascid postocalari alba : pri- 



mariorum scapis ad basin albis, rectricum scapis omnino albis : rostro nigro^ gonyde albicante : pedibus 

 albis purpureo lavatis : iride saturate cinerascenti-brunnea. 



■ ^ , 



Adult, The entire plumage deep sooty grey, darker on the upper surface of the wings and tail^ and shading 

 into blackish grey on the face ; the eyes surrounded posteriorly by a distinct mark of white ; the shafts 

 of the primaries are white in their basal portion^ and those of the tail-feathers in their whole extent. 

 Irides dark greyish brown ; bill jet black and perfectly smooth, with a white cartilaginous line along 

 each side of the lower mandible; legs and feet white, with a purplish tinge. Total length 32*5 inches; 

 wing, from flexure, 19; tail 9*5; bill, along the curvature 4"25, from the gape to extremity of lower 

 mandible 3'75 ; tarsus 2*75 ; middle toe and claw 4*75. 



Young, Differs only in having the plumage of the upper parts largely tinged with brown, the margins of 

 the feathers paler, and the marks encircling the eyes light grey instead of white. 



This well-known species, which appears to be generally distributed over the temperate latitudes 

 southward of the Equator, is comparatively common in the New-Zealand seas. Its long 

 cuneated tail at once distinguishes it from all the other members ; while its short and rather 

 feeble legs indicate its more aerial character. Thus we find Mr. Gould observing that " in its 

 actions and mode of flight it difiers very considerably from all the other species of Albatros, its 

 aerial evolutions being far more easy, its flight much higher, and its stoops more rapid ; it is, 

 moreover, the only species that passes directly over the ship, which it frequently does in blowing 

 weather, often poising itself over the masthead, as if inquisitively viewing the scene below. At 

 this moment it offers so inviting a mark for the gunner that it often forfeits its life." 



In the winter of 1856 I received a very fine specimen from the Wairarapa plains, where it 

 was found in a live state many miles from the sea, apparently blown inland by the violence of 

 the prevailing storms. 



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