NATATORES. 401 



Dr, Pickering also mentions this species as occurring on the coast 

 of Oregon, and as particularly abundant at sea, north of the Sandwich 

 Islands. Under date of 10th of April, 1841, on the passage from Oahu 

 to the Northwest Coast of America, he states : 



" A small species of Diomedea is about us to-day and yesterday, 

 skimming over the surface of the water, and bending its long wings, 

 but not at so great an angle as is usual amongst birds. The rate at 

 which this bird Hies is surprising, though, at the same time, its wings 

 may be without perceptible motion. It alights in the water, rather 

 awkwardly, apparently, and seemed to take particular care to adjust, 

 or, as the sailors termed it, to ' stow away' its long wings without 

 wetting them. It swims with considerable rapidity. All the speci- 

 mens yet seen are entirely blackish or of a dark dove-color, with a 

 white frontlet, or a circle around the base of the bill. When first seen, 

 these birds were mistaken for Boobies by experienced persons on board, 

 but, on nearer approach or with good glasses, they were readily ascer- 

 tained to be Albatrosses. I mention this fact, to show that reports of 

 Boobies having been seen in the North Pacific should be received with 

 caution." 



Under date of 13th of April, he says : 



" Calm during the whole day, but the Albatrosses are still flying 

 around, notwithstanding that I have seen stated their inability to rise 

 from the water during calms. They are, perhaps, under the necessity 

 of flapping their wings more frequently than usual." On the 16th of 

 April, latitude 30° 15' N., he says : " Albatrosses, the same species, 

 still about us, alighting in the wake of the vessel, and picking up any 

 substances, suitable for food, thrown overboard, in one case of compe- 

 tition for which, an individual uttered a faint cry. This is the only 

 instance that I now remember of ever having heard an Albatross 

 utter a note or any cry whatever. It reminded me of neither the 

 ' bleating of a sheep' nor the ' honk of a goose,' but perhaps may re- 

 semble something intermediate. The whole Petrel tribe seem to be 

 remarkably silent." Dr. Pickering again mentions this bird on the 

 coast of Oregon. 



Numerous specimens are in the collection of the Expedition, and 

 exhibit the various stages and changes of plumage above mentioned. 



101 



