NEW ZEALAND LIGHT-MANTLED SOOTY ALBATROS. 
In the A.O.U. CTiecTclisty 3rd ed., 1910, PJioehetria 'palpehrata Forster 
1785, was used to replace P. fuliginosa Gmelin. I at once pointed out 
{Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIL, p. 497, 1910) that Forster’s name would replace 
P. cornicoides Hutton ; and later in the same journal (Vol. XVIII., p. 206, 
1912), synonymised P. fuliginosa Gmelin, 1789, with P. palpehmta Forster, 
1785, and made use of Hilsenberg’s name for the wholly-sooty bird — calling 
the two forms, P. p. palpehrata Forster, the Light-mantled Sooty Albatros, 
and P. p. fusca, the Sooty Albatros. 
Prolonged study now prepares me to put forward the following results, as 
approximating to the truth regarding these two birds : — 
I conclude that a somewhat parallel case to that which I have endeavoured 
to show with regard to the forms of the genus Macronectes here occurs, but that 
the Antarctic and Subantarctic forms are here specifically differentiated, and 
that the Antarctic forms have pushed the Subantarctic forms further north, 
and in some places occupy Subantarctic stations as breeding-grounds. This 
would of course be exactly the opposite view to that taken by Wilson with 
regard to Macronectes, but the facts seem to favour my conclusions. 
One of the most pecuHar points in connection with these birds is that 
most of the literature refers to the Grey-backed bird, and that it is the (well- 
known !) Sooty Albatros of which we are most ignorant. 
The specific name to be used for the Grey-backed bird is unquestionably, 
palpehrata ; while the earhest name given to the wholly-sooty one is fusca. 
Regarding the type-locality of the first named, I conclude that we must 
accept that of the bird killed by Forster in 64° S. 38° E., and figured by 
George Forster. It should be noted that through a slip in the Nov. Zool., 
Vol. XVIII., p. 206, 1912, I gave the locahty as 47° S. 71° W. ! ! 
Where would the bird killed in 64° S. 38° E. breed ? This locality is due 
south of Prince Edward and Marion Islands. On Gough Island and Tristan 
d’Acunha the wholly-sooty bird undoubtedly breeds, while it may also breed 
on the Croze ts, as Layard {Ibis, 1867, p. 458) wrote : “ This species is called 
‘ Bluebird ’ by the sealers [at the Crozets] who readily distinguish it from 
the equally sooty Giant Petrel by the white eyehds and white mark along the 
bill.” I have noted no other breeding-place though Gould, who did not dis- 
tinguish between the two species, when he figured this bird, wrote, “ It was 
constantly seen between the island of St. Paul’s and New South Wales, as 
well at at the entrance of Bass’s Straits, between Van Diemens’ Land and 
Cape Howe.” 
Although Hall {Ibis, 1900, p. 19) stated that he did not meet with any 
specimens agreeing with Hutton’s description of var. cornicoides Kerguelen 
Island, all the specimens received from that Island are referable to palpebrata. 
VOL. n. 
301 
