6 
THE CONDOR 
Vox,. XI 
my specimens, on the contrary, are “pearly white”, but in two cases immaculate, 
w 7 hile the third has a few almost imperceptible specks on the larger end. The 
longest and shortest measure: 1.50X1.04, and 1.44X1.02 inches. 
Once well at sea, albatrosses became conspicuous, both by their size and num- 
bers overshadowing all other birds. At least four species accompanied us, from 
time to time, the White-capped ( Diomedea cau/a) , Wandering (D. exulans ) , 
Sooty ( Phoebetria fuliginosa ) , and another, wdth blackish bill, which w r as prob- 
ably the Yellow 7 -nosed ( Thalassogeron culminatus) . Of these, the White-capped 
was the most abundant, out-numbering the others fifteen to one; usually there 
were, all told, at least a hundred of these birds in the wake of the ship. In addi- 
tion, there were, more or less constantly in sight, almost as many petrels and 
shearwaters, the most beautiful being a pearly Prion. These smaller followers 
were much more erratic and independent than the albatrosses, keeping less closely 
to the ship, foraging wddely over the waters, wdth an occasional tit-bit from our 
“galley”. But whenever the opportunity occurred they did not hesitate to join in 
the scramble, mixing fearlessly with their larger companions. While the shear- 
waters and, especially, the smaller petrels, seemed to beat their wfings more fre- 
quently than the big fellows, their powers of flight are fully as great, and in rapid- 
ity of motion, especially change of direction, they have decidedly the best of it; so 
sudden are their movements that it is often difficult to follow them with the glass, 
and nothing in the flight of the larger birds impressed me so strongly as to see one 
of these waifs, apparently but a feather, wafted helplessly before the gale, suddenly 
turn, stop, and, rising lightly against the blast, dart off in a series of dips and 
circles as tho to mock the very elements. Owing to these habits, and the gen- 
eral similarity of some forms, positive identification was in most cases impracti- 
cable, but I think that at least six species w 7 ere usually within view. 
Conditions for observing the albatrosses were much more favorable, and the 
followdng remarks, except as noted, apply equally to all species seen, as there ap- 
peared to be little difference in their habits or mode of flight, tho I) . exulans was 
obviously much larger than the rest. So much has been written about the “mar- 
vellous pow r ers of flight” possessed by these birds, that I believe one w 7 ho observes 
them for the first time is apt to be somewhat disappointed by their appearance close 
at hand; for the heavy bill, short, thick-set body, and abnormally long and slender 
wings seem somewhat ungainly. Then, too, they are singularly silent birds, and 
this apparent lack of animation adds to the impression of stolid stupidity wdiicli 
their appearance inspires. But if such be the case, unfavorable criticism is soon 
dispelled; for the spectacle of dozens of these great birds maneuvering in a gale at 
sea, with an ease and assurance wdiieh baffles explanation, is positively exhiler- 
ating. Unlike the petrels, these massive, powerful aviators never give one the im- 
pression of being “swept aw 7 ay”, even when under full headway “dovrn the wind”. 
Of the various species, D . cauta seemed somewdiat bolder than the rest; 
usually keeping close to the ship, one would occasionally drift directly over the 
deck, and I have stood still wdth one of these birds, poised, and apparently mo- 
tionless, wdthiu a few feet of my head. Nevertheless, both ship and bird were 
gliding along at thirteen knots, and yet even at such close range it was often im- 
possible to detect the slightest quiver of the pinions. It is only at such times that 
one can appreciate their size; over the water there is no standard for comparison, 
and I found my shipmates constantly underestimating the expanse. D. exulans 
is very much larger, but I saw 7 none under such favorable circumstances; they 
sometimes passed close astern, but usually followed in wider circles, hugging the 
waves so closely that in turning, the long pinions frequently touched the water. 
