42 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



the lonely islands west of the Sandwich group. It is also supposed to 

 breed on some of the islands oflF the coast of China and Japan and on 

 some of the Aleutian Islands. This species requires many years before 

 it attains perfect plumage, but the young are said to be easily distin- 

 guished from 7tigripes. It is a constant attendant of whaling vessels, 

 feeding on the scraps of blubber or refuse thrown from the ships. It is 

 easily caught with hook and line, and when taken on board is said 

 to be unable to rise from the deck, as it requires a long range of surface 

 on which to flap its wings. The single egg which this species deposits 

 is white, equal-ended, and measures 4.20 x 2.60. It is laid on the bare 

 ground. 



[83.] Thalassogeron culminatus (Gould.) [702] 



'Vello^ir-iiosed Albatross. 



Hab. Indian and South Pacific Oceans; casual off the coast of Oregon. 



Supposed to be a rare visitant on the Pacific coast north of the 

 equator. A dead specimen answering the description of this species 

 was washed up on the beach near the Golden Gate, and an ex- 

 ample is said to have been taken as far north as the mouth of the 

 Columbia River, Oregon. It breeds on the islands of the Southern 

 Indian and South Pacific Oceans. A single egg is laid. 



Mr. J. Parker Norris has a specimen of the egg of this species, 

 which was collected by Captain Thomas B. Lynch, at Diego Ramirey 

 Islands, near Cape Horn, February 8, 1886. It measures 4.30 x 2.72, 

 and is dull white, faintly speckled with lavender and purplish. The 

 specks form an indistinct wreath at the larger end, in the same manner 

 that the eggs of Leach's Petrel are often marked. In fact, Mr. Norris 

 says that this specimen looks like an egg of the latter seen through a 

 powerful magnifying glass. Incubation in this case was slightly 

 advanced. The nest consisted of mud scraped together in a heap on 

 the ground. Mr. Emerson has an egg of this Albatross which meas- 

 ures 4.68x2.68; it was taken by Captain Lynch at Diegos Kavnen's 

 rocks, S. by E. fifty-two miles from Cape Horn, January 12, 1880. The 

 egg was fresh. The nest was composed of grass and mud on the out- 

 side, and lined with fine grass and feathers. The diameter outside at 

 the top 12 inches, and at the base 18. Inside it was 10 inches broad 

 by 5 deep. It was built on the top of rocks on a loamy plain. 



The data accompanying Mr. Emerson's specimen states that the 

 nests are placed close together, and they are very nicely and solidly 

 built, lasting two or three seasons even in that hot climate.* Prof. 

 Ridgway gives the average size of the ^^'g as 4.18 x 2.63. 



"Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XI, pp. 21-22. 



