28 o 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
other Albatrosses in habits and economy. Breeds on Albatross Island 
(Bass Strait), also on Pyramid Rock and the Chatham and Bounty 
Islands. 
Nest. —A flat, bowl-shaped structure, composed of soil and excrement 
mixed with roots and grasses; placed on the ground. 
Egg. —Dull white or creamv-white, freckled or capped, more or less, 
with reddish-brown surface markings on the larger end; some eggs are 
almost devoid of markings. The surface is coarse-grained and minutely 
pitted all over and is almost lustreless. Breeding-season: August to 
October. 
10. Sooty Albatross Phcebetria fuse a Hilsenberg 
Phce-be-tri-a —Gk, phoibetria, prophetess: fus'-ca — L., fuscus, brown. 
Distribution. —The southern seas of Australia, and Tasmania; occurs 
generally in the southern oceans from latitude 30°S. to the Antarctic 
Circle. 
Notes. —A common bird in Australian seas, and often confused with 
the young of the Wandering Albatross, but may be distinguished by its 
smaller size and wedge-shaped tail. It is similar in habits and economy 
to the other Albatrosses. Breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island. 
Nest. —Not recorded. 
Eggs. —Not recorded. 
11. Grey-mantled Albatross Phcebetria palpebrata Forster 
pal-pe-bra-ta — L., palpcbratus , marked around the eye. 
Distribution. —The southern seas of Australia, and Tasmania* occurs 
generally from latitude 33°S. to the Antarctic Circle. 
A otes.* —Also called Light-mantled Albatross. This species is only 
a casual visitor to Australian seas, and may be distinguished from the 
booty Albatross by its grey back and under-parts. It resembles the 
booty Albati oss in habits and economy, but is range is more southern 
V an , s P ecies - Breeds on South Georgia, and Kerguelen, Antipodes, 
Auckland, Campbell, and Macquarie Islands. 
N est. —Placed in crevices in rocks. 
Whitish, covered round the larger end with very small reddish- 
? 0 J«Z7’ W11Ch mergC t0gether at the a P ex * Breeding-season : October 
12 \, Red " tailed Tr °P ic bird PhaetUon rubricaudus Boddaert 
phadthon ’ shinin £ : ru-bri-caild’-us—L., ruber, red; L„ 
and the^iU^/^r’ ^ ropical Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Madagascar 
Hawi ian A T«H i 1US , t0 A hG ( T nalapagOS Is,ands > and from the Bourn and 
-Hawaiian Islands to Australia and the ICermadec Islands. 
ote±. Also called Red-tailed Bos’n-bird. This species is only a 
