However, I remained lucky and did not have a qualm . 
The moment I looked astern I saw we had picked up a crowd of fellow 
mariners, for the blank air of yesterday was filled with wheeling albatrosse 
All were Diomedia nigripes, but they varied so among themselves as to be 
s 
intensely interesting to study from the plumage standpoint as well as flight. 
Heretofore we have seen only young birds of last year without the light, 
rumps of maturity and with the white forehead and ring back of base of bill 
subdued or almost wanting. "While birds in this plumage are still in the 
great majority there are a dozen or 15 birds with white rumps and bill 
rings of varying intensity. I have an impression that adequate material 
would show 3 °r k annual stages to maturity. Either that, or the adults 
vary as tremendously in respect to the white rump as do the smaller white- 
rumped petrels such as 0. socorroensis. By evening over 50 of the birds 
had collected about the stern of the ship wheeling within 15 to 20 yds of 
me in eager-eyed expectancy of a hand-out from the galley. Unpleasant as 
the day has been for most of the passengers it has served to give me a 
feeling of intimate acquaintance with this dusky wanderer of the high 
seas. 
Only 15 down for dinner. Wind and brown sea unabated. Ports screwed 
tight tonight, with occasional green water swishing by ours on n D n deck® 
Thursday 
o 
O 
- 29-23 
Sun with only few wind clouds - noon 69 0 - water 6 $ 
Lat. 25° ^2% Long. ±k7°k2 : W 
Course 2^7° Sea moderate - N.W* 
Wind: W 6-2 
Distance today 322 m. - distance to go p2k m. 
Day 2k hrs. - 21 min. - av. speed 13-2 
This is xhe first sun-lit day that has given even a hint of the azure 
uropical cruise I had expected when once the mainland fog belt was left be- 
O -) yr\ri 
The constant high smoky clouds of the past days have been a constan - 
