18 WATER BIRDS 



It has been nicknamed " Gonie " by the fishermen, in 

 supposed allusion to a peculiar croaking noise it makes 

 when feeding. 



82. SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS. — Diomedea albatms. 

 Family : The Albatrosses. 



Length: 33.00-37.00. 



Adults : White, merging to straw-yellow on head and neck ; tail- 

 feathers brownish, primaries having yellow shafts. 



Young : Uniform dark brownish gray, merging to blackish on head and 

 neck ; shafts of primaries straw-yellow ; bill and feet light brown. 



Geographical Distribution : North Pacific ; in America from California 

 to Alaska. 



Breeding Mange: Islands of the Sandwich group and northward to 

 Aleutian Islands. 



Nest : The bare ground. 



Eggs: 1 ; elliptical ; white. Size 4.20 X 2.60. 



The Short-tailed Albatross is found on the Pacific 

 Ocean, following the whaling ships to feed on the refuse. 

 Mr. Davie says : " It is easily caught with hook and line, 

 and when taken on board is unable to rise from the deck, 

 as it requires a long range of surface on which to flap its 

 wings." 



It is occasionally seen in the Bay of Monterey in 

 December and January, following the whales that fre- 

 quently come into the harbor, and it is remarkably fear- 

 less. A young bird of this species shot by Mr. Loomis 

 was very ferocious, screaming with rage, and trying to 

 bite its wounded wing. When approached by the col- 

 lector who had shot it, the bird turned its fury upon 

 him. The Chinese fishermen regard these monai'chs of 

 the high seas with superstitious awe, feeding them and 



