81 
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS 
Diomedea nigripes, Aud. 
(not figured.) 
For a specimen of this Albatross, I am indebted to Mr. Townsend, who 
procured it on the 25th December, 1834, on the Pacific Ocean, in lat. 30°, 
44' N., long. 146°. It is clearly distinct from the other two described in 
this work, namely the Dusky and the Yellow-nosed ; but I have received no 
information respecting its habits. Not finding any of the meagre notices 
or descriptions to which I can refer to agree with this bird, I have taken 
the liberty of giving it a name, being well assured that, should it prove to 
have been described, some person will kindly correct my mistake. 
Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 327. 
Length, 36 ; wings 21 ; bill, 5 ; tail, 3. 
Pacific Ocean, off California. 
Male. 
Bill longer than the head, nearly straight, stout, compressed. U pper man- 
dible with its dorsal outline straight and declinate until near the middle, 
when it becomes a little concave, and along the unguis curves in the third of 
a circle, the ridge convex, very broad and convex at the base, with its basal 
margin curved in the third of a circle, the ridge separated in its whole length 
by a groove, margined below by a prominent line, from the sides, which are 
prominently convex, the edges sharp, the unguis decurved, strong, acute, 
with the sides a little convex. Nostrils sub-basal, prominent, tubular, having 
a horny sheath. Lower mandible with the angle narrow, reaching to the 
tip, and having at its extremity a slender horny -interposed process ; tho 
outline of the crura gently ascending, slightly convex, toward the end a little 
concave, at the tip deflected, the sides ascending and considerably convex, 
but at the base concave, the edges sharp and indexed, the tip compressed, 
its upper edges decurved. 
Head rather large, ovate, anteriorly compressed; neck of moderate length; 
body full. Feet rather short, stoutish ; tibia bare for an inch and ten- 
twelfths, reticulated all round with very small convex scales ; tarsus rather 
slender, covered all round with small roundish convex scales ; toes three, 
Vol. VIII.— 11 
