14 
that these canny fellows would not approach the ship until it was in 
American waters. For in Aleutian and Asiatic waters all sea-birds are 
game and the “Gooney” has learned his lesson. A Japanese at Kashawabara 
bay was seen wearing a cap made of the skin of an albatross. 
Out at sea, where other birds were scarce, these great, silent, stolid 
chaps were a constant source of interest. They were always seen skimming 
the waves low in a stiff-winged, effortless manner, apparently slow-moving 
yet covering miles with a magic ease and speed. Their speed could be 
noted when they swept alongside the rail or when three or four hurried to 
concentrate on the scraps from the cook’s galley. In following the ship 
they rested continually, not apparently having the gull’s trick of holding 
steadily aloft and adjusting flight to speed of ship. In alighting, they picked 
the slope of a swell, thrust down their long legs with their big feet spread 
apart widely, and then skated to rest. First one long wing was folded and 
tucked away and then the other, and while swimming, the body always 
floated high with the wings piled high on the back — this last due to the fact 
that the humerus, radius, and ulna of the long, narrow wing are by far its 
longest part. The birds following the ship differed greatly in size, and the 
smaller ones, doubtless the young of the previous year, showed no white 
either on the rump or the undertail-coverts, whereas the larger ones showed 
the white very plainly. 
No specimens could be secured. Even that most reprehensible trick, 
the baited hook trailed astern, failed ignominiously. 
Apparently this bird on its wandering seldom approaches land. 
Diomedea albatrus Pallas. Short-tailed Albatross 
On May 8, in the southern Kurils, two whitish albatrosses with darker 
wing-tips were sighted rather distantly and were probably this species. 
The bird was not seen again on either voyage. 
Fulmarus glacialis glupischa Stejneger. Pacific Fulmar 
This wanderer, that perhaps more than any other claims the wind- 
swept sea wastes for its very own, appeared first off mount St. Elias, Alaska, 
March 13. A dozen birds here in several colour phases swung in behind 
the ship and followed it at a distance. It appeared again next day off cape 
St. Elias, but was not met again until the Thiepval left the more or less 
“inside” waters and was traversing Bering sea. During a rough night 
west of the Bogoslofs, March 30, a fulmar came aboard the ship and was 
secured. Colour notes made at the time were: “male, in dark phase; bill, 
including nasal tube, green, the nail of bill more yellowish; iris brownish; 
toes and tarsus, bluish.” The sex organs were well enlarged. 
On April 19 and 22, near Kyska island and Attu island, respectively, 
a few scattered individuals were noted, but it was on the 24th that large 
numbers were encountered. On that day, the journal reads: “Abeam 
Copper island in morning, and at 10 a.m. anchored off Preobrajenyia 
village. For 10 or 15 miles out of harbour fulmars were in huge flocks — 
always keeping a little distance from the ship. A shoal of fish was passed — 
herring or mackerel — and it was evident that the fulmars were following 
this food, for they were clustered excitedly just as gulls are when working a 
school of fry. There were ten thousand(?) fulmars in sight at once.” 
