Genus— PHCEBASTRIA Reich. 
Phcebastria Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. V5gel., 
p. v., 1852 (1853). Type (by monotypy) .. Diomedea brachyura Temm.= 
Diomedea albatrus Pallas. 
(Bill figured Birds Austr., Vol. II., pfc. in, p. 243, September 20fch, 1912.) 
Differs from Diomedea in having the nostril well separated from the base of 
the bill, as in Thalassarche, with the cuhninicom produced downwards, posterior 
to the nasal opening, where it overlaps the latericorn. The base of the lower 
mandible is clean cut. There is no cere at the base of the ramicom ( nigripes ). 
In the Diomedeidce I have always contended that the bill characters are 
diagnostic. If one had only the heads, one could name the species quite readily. 
Whether the bill is a generic character or not is a matter of opinion, not of 
fact. 
To have one genus Diomedea into which one would place all Albatrosses 
and MoUymawks as into a sack, or to divide them up into many genera or 
subgenera, is an open question. 
Phcebastria is a Mollymawk perhaps, but many consider it an Albatross; 
is it the bridge over which one walks from Diomedea to Thalassarche ? Then 
what do we do with cauta ? 
I include drawings of the bills of nigripes. 
