BIRDS OF THE OPEN SEA 17 



as nearly eveiy capture is seized by the rapacious Jaegers 

 as soon as raised from the water. Like .most bul- 

 lies, the Jaeger never bothers a gull of its own size, 

 but chooses its victim from the smaller varieties. 

 In tlie northern regions it destroys eggs and nests of 

 other water-fowl, rarely fishing for itself, but living 

 by thievery. 



81. BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS. — Diomedea 



Family : The Albatrosses. 



Length: 28.50-36.00. 



Adults : Upper parts dark brownish gray ; under parts uniform grayish ; 



tail-coverts and anterior portions of head white ; bill dusky brown ; 



feet black. 

 Yoimg : Similar, but upper tail-coverts dark gray, and little or no white 



on head. 

 Geographical Distribution ; North Pacific, including west coast of North 



America. 

 Sreeding Range : Islands of the Pacific near the equator. 

 Nest : A depression in the guano, lined or edged with a little seaweed. 

 Eggs: 1 ; white. 



Very little is known of the nesting habits of this 

 rover of the high seas. I have been able to find only 

 one record of any nest discovered or any egg taken. 

 It is said to breed on the islands in the middle of the 

 Pacific Ocean toward the equator, in January and Feb- 

 ruary. Its cries are said to resemble cat-calls and to 

 have a particularly doleful sound heard in the roar of a 

 tempest. Of untiring flight, it visits the land only to 

 nest, and is seldom seen near the coast, preferring the 

 free, bold life on the open sea. 



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