BuLLEE. — On the Occurrence of the Shy Albatros in the Nnrth Island. 217 



Art. XXV. — Notice of the Occurrence of the Shy Albatros (Diomedea cauta) 



in the North' Island. By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D., F.L.S. 



IRead before the WeUitigton Philosophical Society, 22ncl Septemher, 1877.] 



In a pai3er 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 Bluesldu 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 Wellmgton 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. 



Fern. ad. — Fronte et vertice cinerascenti-albis : pileo coUoque totis 

 pulchre cinereo lavatis : regione ante- et super-oculari cinerascenti-nigris • 

 dorso et interscapulio cum ala tota cinerascenti-nigris : uropygio, supra- 

 caudalibus albis : remigibus brunnescenti-nigris, scapis ad basin flavicanti- 

 albidis, secundariis versus apicem brunnescente tinctis : cauda saturate 

 argentescenti-cinerea, scapis albidis : subtus pure albus : subalaribus albis, 

 plumis exterioribus nigricantibus : iride Itete vinascenti-brunnea: pedibus 

 sordide corneo-albicantibus, tarsis saturatioribus : rostro cyanescenti- 

 corneo, ad apicem sordide nigro, culmine medialiter et gonyde obscure 

 flavicantibus, ad basin conspicuH nigro marginatis : margiue ad basin 

 mandibulse Iffite 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 XDure 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 ; 



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