NATATORES. 



399 



This Albatross probably inhabits the entire extent of the Pacific 

 Ocean, from the northern coasts of America and Asia to Australia, 

 venturing, perhaps, farther northward than any other species of its 

 genus. It was ascertained, by the naturalists of the Expedition, to be 

 of frequent occurrence on the coasts of Oregon and California, and, for 

 the first time, demonstrated to be entitled to a place in the Fauna of 

 North America. It is given, by Mr. Gould, as a bird of Australia. 



Though much resembling the Wandering Albatross, and occasionally 

 mistaken for that species, the present bird is constantly much smaller, 

 and readily distinguished. It is, however, larger than any other of 

 the species of this group. 



Diomedea nigripes, Aud., is, undoubtedly, the young bird of this 

 species ; and the change from the uniform dark-brown plumage of 

 that age to the almost pure white of the adult probably requires 

 several years, as stated by Mr. Peale, below. In the brown stage of 

 plumage, this bird is represented in the plate in Temm. and Schleg., 

 Fauna Japonica, above cited, and in our Birds of California and Texas, 

 PI. XXXV. 



We introduce, with much pleasure, the following account of this 

 bird by Mr, Peale : 



" Numbers of the Short-tailed Albatross were observed by the 

 Expedition on the Northwest Coast of America, and it is probably an 

 inhabitant of all of the Pacific Ocean, north of the Tropic of Cancer. 

 It varies as much in the colors of its plumage as the Wandering Alba- 

 tross, or perhaps more, and requires many years to attain its perfect 

 dress. The changes are regularly progressive. Until the second year, 

 the plumage remains of a dark sooty-brown color ; the bird has black 

 feet, and a dirty flesh-colored bill (which becomes black when the skin 

 is dried). In this state they pair and raise young. 



" After this stage, cloudy-white spots appear about the base of the 

 bill, and over and under the eyes ; their rumps begin to show a con- 

 spicuous spot of white ; the bill turns yellow, with a tinge of carmine, 

 the tip bluish ; the legs are then flesh-color ; and finally, the back, 

 wings, and tail become cinereous-brown ; rump, head, and all the 

 under parts, pure white ; a white margin shows along the back edge 

 of the wing as the bird flies, and a cloudy-black spot generally remains 

 in front of the eye. Thus, in some years, the plumage of the body is 

 changed from nearly black to a pure snow-like white. 



" Usually, birds of this species are silent, but sometimes they quarrel 



