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GENUS PHCEBETRI A (Reichenbach). 



TI^HE greatest in size and importance of the truly oceanic family Procellaridcs is that bird of unrivalled 

 flight, the Albatros. Resembling in many particulars in their habits the smaller Petrels, in whose 

 company the great Albatros is a frequenter of the deep, the enormous expanse of wing, great size of 

 body, graceful and sustained power of flight and noble appearance, at once proclaim the Albatros the 

 monarch of the ocean. 



PH(EBETRIA FULIGTXOSA (Gmd.) 



SOOTY ALBATROS. Genus: Phcebetria. 



riMHIS species is one of the commonest of the Albatroses ; its distinguishing characteristics are gracefulness 

 of flight and uniform soinbreness of plumage. Swiftest among the swift, this bird, with > every part 

 of his body absolutely motionless, save the head and eye which slowly turn and vigilantly scan everything 

 around him, sweeps past and through his less speedy companions, sustaining a flight the graceful beauty 

 and ease of which it is impossible to adequately describe. This wonderful and prolonged flight, without 

 the slightest perceptible motion of the wings, which is sometimes continued for fully an hour, at once 

 attracts the attention and admiration of the voyager. Dr. Bennett expresses his belief that the whole 

 surface of the body of the Albatros is covered by a system of air cells which, by a wonderful and 

 beautiful muscular apparatus, are inflated or diminished in response to the bird's desire to ascend or 

 descend. That such a peculiar apparatus does exist in all birds, and in some is developed to a considerable 

 extent, is well known ; but the actual factors in raising the bird in the air while the wings are apj)arently 

 motionless are those simple mechanical laws governing the magnitude and direction of pressures. 



The Sooty Albatros is a general inhabitant of the cold waters of the Southern Ocean within 

 the Antarctic Circle, where great numbers are met with ; Captain Cook speaks of them as having been 

 abundant about the ship at the time of his falling in with the first ice ; his sailors, on account of the 

 bird's sombre plumage, called it " The Quaker." 



One peculiarity of this species is the cuneated tail which, with its more delicate structure generally, 

 undoubtedly indicates the possession of greater aerial powers than others of the family. In its manner 

 of flight a marked difference from all the other Albatroses is noticeable ; rising to a greater height, its 

 wonderful aerial evolutions are so easily performed and of such an exceedingly beautiful nature that the 

 beholder will not quickly tire of the sight. Gould states it to be the only species that will pass directly 

 over a ship, and that it frequently poises itself directly over the deck in such an inviting manner that 

 the gunner cannot resist the tempting mark. 



