Okder ANSERES.] [F am< PROCELLAEIID^E. 



DIOMEDEA EXULANS. 



(WANDERING ALBATROS.) 



Diomedea exulans, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 214 (1766). 

 Diomedea albatrus, Pall. Spic. Zool. fasc. v. p. 28 (1769). 

 Chocolate Albatros, Lath. Gen. Syn. iii. pt. 1, p. 309 (1785). 

 L'Alhatros du Cap de Bonne Esperance, Buff. PI. Enl. x. pi. 237 (1786). 

 Diomedea spadicea, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 568 (1788, ex Lath.). 

 Diomedea adusta, Tschudi, J. f. O. 1856, p. 157. 



Native name. — Torea. 



Ad. albus : interscapulio indistincte brunneo fasciatim vermiculato : tectricibus alarum nigris vix brunnescen- 

 tibus, majoribus interioribus plus minusve albis, margine carpali albo et brunneo vario : remigibus 

 brunnescenti-nigris, apicem versus pallidioribus, scapis flavicanti-albidis : scapularibus albis, ad apicem 

 nigris : dorso postico et uropygio, supracaudalibus caudaque albis, hae nigro apicata, rectricibus exte- 

 rioi'ibus basaUter brunneo irregulariter transvermiculatis : subtus pure albus, pectore indistincte brunneo 

 vermiculatini fasciato : rostro albido, carnoso vix tincto, ad apicem flavicanti-corneo : pedibus carneo- 

 albicantibus : iride saturate brunnea : annulo opbtbalmico viridi-purpurascente. 



Juv. supra fuliginoso-brunneus : alis caudaque fuliginoso-nigris, scapis flavicanti-albis, versus apicem nigris : 

 fronte cum facie laterali et gutture pure albis : subtus fuliginoso-brunneus, abdomine magis cineras- 

 cente : subalaribus et axillaribus albis, his versus apicem brunneo vermiculatis : rostro albicanti-corneo : 

 pedibus albicanti-carneis : iride nigricanti-brunnea. 



Adult. General plumage pure white ; the feathers of the back and those composing the mantle crossed 

 more or less with narrow wavy lines of brown ; the breast and sides of the body obscurely freckled and 

 vermiculated with pale brown ; upper surface of wings blackish brown, varied with pale brown and 

 white along the edges, and with an extensive patch of white on the humeral flexure ; primaries 

 brownish black, with paler tips and yellowish-white shafts ; secondaries brownish black, largely marked 

 with white on their inner webs ; scapulars white on their basal portion, black towards the tips ; tail- 

 feathers largely marked with black in their apical portion, and the outer ones more or less vermiculated 

 with brown ; lining of wings and under tail-coverts pure white. Irides rich dark brown ; bare eyelids 

 greenish purple ; bill white, with a pinky tinge, yellowish horn-coloured at the tips ; legs and feet flesh- 

 white, sometimes with a pinky tinge. Total length 42*5 inches ; extent of wings 40 ; wing, from carpal 

 flexure, 24; tail 8 - 5 ; bill, following the curvature of upper mandible 7 ; length of lower mandible 6; 

 depth of bill at the base 2 - 5; bare tibia 1*5; tarsus 5 ; middle toe and claw 6 - 5 ; greatest width of 

 expanded foot 6' 5. 



Obs. The measurements given above are those of an ordinary-sized bird captured off the New-Zealand 

 coast by the seamen of H.M.S. 'Virago;' the size, however, is variable, and much larger examples 



2 Q 



