143 



Albatros. In these the bill measured as follows :— (a) Along the ridge, 8*7.5 inches ; from the 

 gape to end of lower mandible in a straight line, 6"5 inches, (b) Along the ridge, 8*5 inches ; 

 from the gape to end of lower mandible in a straight line, 6'25 inches. In both of them the 

 plumage of the head was snow-white ; bill yellowish-white with a dark line along the cutting- 

 line of upper mandible. 



Of the dozen or more specimens of this Albatros collected by Mr. W. Smyth on the Otago 

 coast, all but two were females. The last, however, that I purchased from him is larger than 

 any of the rest, with snow-white head and neck, and is a male ; so is the young bird from 

 Campbell Island obtained from him, and now in my collection. 



A fine specimen from the Auckland Islands measured, in extent, with wings expanded, 9 feet 

 8 inches. The head and neck are snow white ; eye-lids black ; irides blue black ; bill of an 

 extremely delicate pink, except the hook (upper and lower) which is horn-white ; along the cutting 

 edge of the upper mandible a line of black. Feet flesh- white ; webs pale pinky-blue. 



On being approached this bird stretches up its neck, opens and closes its bill with a loud 

 snapping sound, and occasionally utters a loud guttural note. On the ground it usually rests on 

 the tarsus. 



I reproduce here one of Mr. Morris' excellent photographs taken on Campbell Island, because 

 it gives a good idea of the appearance of the Koyal Albatros, on shore ; besides which it shows well 

 the peculiar arrangement of the black and white colouration on the back and wings. The young 

 bird is generally very fat and very fluffy, both of which characteristics are well shown in the 

 accompanying photograph : 



THE ROYAL ALBATROS. 



YOUNG OF SAME. 



The following entries from my diary, of an ocean trip round the world in 1893-4, may be 

 found interesting in relation to this species : — 



On the morning of March 5th, a very beautiful Albatros (Diomedea regia) appeared on the scene. It was 

 of enormous size, and wholly white, except the pinions beyond the second flexure of the wing, looking in the 



