128 



Mr. Salvin also recognises that spec es as distinct.* It has not yet been recorded from New 

 Zealand ; but it is one of those species that may reasonably be looked for there. 



On this point Prof. Newton sends me the following note : — 



There seems to be no evidence at present as to the occurrence of P. garnoti, the largest species, with 

 yon, but it would not surprise me if it were to turn up. All Petrels are puzzling in almost 'every 

 way— habits, distribution and what not. I take it that Salvin has solved some of the puzzles ; but I doubt 

 whether, with all the trouble he has taken, and all the opportunities he has had, he himself would admit that 

 he had completely disposed of all the difficulties of determination. 



Order PEOCELLAEIIFOEMES.] 



[Family DIOMEDE1D.E. 



DIOMEDEA EXULANS. 



(WANDEEING ALBATEOS.) 



Diomedea exulans, Linn. ; Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. ii., p. 189. 



In volume xxi. of ' The Transactions ' of the New Zealand Institute, there is a paper by Mr. 

 A. Eeischek on ' The Habits and Home of the Wandering Albatros.' 



The author of the paper, having visited the Antipodes and Auckland Islands in the 

 Government steamer ' Stella ' during the breeding season of that species, seems to have enjoyed 

 exceptional opportunities for studying its history in the adolescent state. But, unfortunately, 

 through an obvious inaccuracy of observation, he entirely failed to give us any very definite 

 information .on the only point that presented any difficulty. 



He says (I. c, p. 128) : " The Albatros takes five years to become fully matured, and in each 

 year there is a slight change of plumage. The young, which are hatched in February, are covered 

 with snow-white down, and a beautiful specimen in this stage exists in the Otago Museum. In the 

 following December they lose their down, and the plumage is of a brown colour, with white under 

 the wings and on the throat. In the second year the plumage is the same, except that there 

 is more white on the throat and abdomen. In the third year there is still more white, although 

 mixed with blotches of brown. In the fourth year they very nearly acquire the full plumage. 

 The male is white with a few very fine dark specks, except the wings, which are dark-brown. In 

 the fifth year they reach their full growth, and the mature plumage is displayed — white with 

 blackish-brown wings." 



Mr. Eeischek's account of the nestling agrees with Mr. Gould's, which is as follows : " The 

 young are at first clothed in a pure-white down, which gives place to the dark brown colouring 

 mentioned above " (' Hand. Birds of Australia,' ii., p. 433). 



* This much larger species is thus discriminated by Mr. Salvin (I. c, p. 439) : — 



P. garnoti, Less. — Voy. Coquille, i., pt. 2, p. 730. 



Adult. — Similar to the preceding species but considerably larger ; entire under surface pure white ; flanks and 

 axillaries dusky-grey; inner surface of the tarsi, middle and inner toes yellowish-hazel; outer side of the tarsus and 

 outer toes darker. Total length about 9-5 inches, wing 5-7, tail 1-65, bill 1*2, tarsus 1-35, middle toe 14, outer toe a 

 little shorter, inner toe 1*1. 



Hab. — West Coast of South America from Callao to Valparaiso. 



