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BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 187 



is frequently to be seen either following in the wake of ships or 

 else scouring the ocean for food. 



It has been found breeding on Campbell, Auckland, Antipodes, 

 Bounty, Falkland, and Kerguelen Islands. 



' ' Of all the species with which I am acquainted this is the most 

 fearless of man, for it often approaches many yards nearer the 

 vessel than any other; I have even observed it so near that the 

 tips of its pinions were not more than two arms' lengths from the 

 taffrail. It is very easily captured with a hook and line, and, as 

 this operation gives not the least pain to the bird, the point of the 

 hook merely taking hold in the homy and insensible tip of the 

 bill, I frequently amused myself by capturing specimens in this 

 way, and after detaining them sufficiently long to afford me an 

 opportunity for investigating any particular point respecting which 

 I wished to satisfy myself, setting them at liberty again, after 

 having marked many, in order to ascertain whether the individuals 

 which were flying round the ship were the same that were simi- 

 larly engaged at daylight in the morning after a night's run of 120 

 miles, and this in many cases proved to be the case. When 

 brought upon deck, from which it cannot take wing, it readily 

 becomes tame, and allows itself to be handled almost immediately; 

 still, I believe that no member of this group can be domesticated, 

 in consequence of the difficulties of procuring a supply of natural 

 food" (Gould). 



*WHITE-CAPPED OE SHY ALBATEOSS 

 {Thalassogeron cautus, Gould). 



Male. — " Head, neck, lower back, upper tail coverts, whole of 

 under surface, under wing coverts, and axillaries white "; a grey- 

 ish-black mark in front and over the eye; face pale grey; back, 

 wings, and tail greyish-brown; "bill light vinous, grey or bluish 

 horn colour, except on the culmen, where it is more yellow, partic- 

 ularly at the base ; the mandible is surrounded at the base with a 

 narrow belt of black, which also extends on each side of the culmen 

 to the nostrils; base of the mandible surrounded by a belt of rich 

 orange, which extends to the comers of the mouth; feet bluish- 

 white; irides brown" (Gould). Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 

 about 890; bill, 152; wing, 560; tail, 230; tarsus, 92. 



Female. — Similar to male save that the face is slightly lighter 

 in colour and the culmen dull yellow. 



Nest. — Constructed of soil mixed when in the wet state with 

 rootlets and other vegetation and raised a few inches off the ground. 



Eggs. — Clutch one; elliptical in shape; texture coarse; surface 

 rough and without gloss ; colour soiled white, with a freckled band 

 of reddish-brown about the apex. Dimensions in mm. of odd 

 examples :— (1) 96 x 70, (2) 107 x 69. 



Breeding Season. — September and October. 



