BIRDS THE ALBATROSS.

39

October 21.-Latitude, 38° 15' s.; longitude, 35° 53′ E. From a variety of observations, I am able to bear testimony to the correctness of a fact that has been before noticed, viz. that the Medusa invariably live in families. This single circumstance is remarkable in connection with other points of natural history, since it will tend to explain the reason of certain classes of Petrels (Procellaria) only visiting particular parts of the

ocean.

Sunday, October 22.-Latitude, 37° 44′s.; longitude, 38° 00′ E. Caught two small animals, one closely resembling a small shrimp (Penæus), but having the head covered with a most beautiful purple shield. I kept this alive in a jug. The other in size and appearance exactly like a purple grape (Hyalea), with a greenish tinge at one extremity surrounding an aperture, and a distinct aperture at the other extremity. It was 0.4 inches in diameter, and had the power of emitting a phosphorescent light. I have since this period found several varieties of this animal; which, when it expands itself, closely resembles an insect, and has little wings. Further on will be found a sketch of these animals in their expanded state. (p. 51. f. 1.)

THE ALBATROSS.-(Diomedea Exulans.)

We caught four of these birds yesterday, from which I made the following measurements :

Temperature 98°,-the thermometer placed under the tongue during life. These measurements were all made during the lifetime of the bird.

SECOND SPECIMEN-Weight, 15 lbs.

The largest bird of the kind I have hitherto seen.

The beak of each of these birds during lifetime was of a beautiful light rose colour; their voice was something like that of a goose, but rather louder, deeper, and hoarser. If during life the beak

THE ALBATROSS.

41

was pressed with the finger, it became quite white, and it was not until the pressure had for some time been removed, that the colour returned. The specimens I have described above (all males) were quite white underneath; the white above being speckled with black spots and streaks, sometimes changing to a brownish hue; the wings were black. We obtained also a female bird with the following measurements, which has been described as a distinct species:

Legs pale flesh colour; beak, black, with a brown-coloured streak on each side of the lower mandible; the whole body of a dirty black colour, acquiring a lighter tinge underneath.

October 30.-I shot two male specimens of this last bird: the only distinction between them and the female was that they were rather smaller, and had a white streak instead of a light brown one on each side of the lower mandible.

FIRST SPECIMEN, Male-Weight, 5lbs.
Length from tip of wing to tip of wing,
Length from tip of beak to tip of tail,
Length from root to tip of tail,
Length from root to tip of beak,
Length from root to tip of foot,
Length from root to tip of wing,

feet. in.

6 6

2

6

0

11

0

4

0

5

2

10

All the three specimens of this species had a distinct although minute claw, representing a thumb, upon one leg, thus apparently forming a link between the genus Procellaria and the genus Diomedea.

PACHYPTILA VITTATA.

Ash-grey above; white in the under parts; quills, tail-feathers at the tip, and band on the wings when expanded, brownish-black.

This bird is of the same species as the one I procured on the 16th of October. I shot it about nine, A. M. They are very numerous in these latitudes; their flight resembles much that of a snipe. The name by which they are known to the sailors is the "whale-bird," they appear to take their food upon the wing, for I have never yet seen them sit upon the waters even for a single second, although

I have observed them frequently, and at all hours; but night and day they hurry on with the same restless, rapid flight, sometimes going in large flocks; and I have never upon shore, seen so many birds assembled upon a few square miles, as I have sometimes here observed in the open ocean. never heard them utter any cry or sound.

I

I saw but few Cape pigeons (Procellaria Capensis) after passing the 40° of longitude, and neither Cape pigeons nor albatrosses after passing the 95° of longitude, and 32nd parallel of latitude. I have never seen a petrel, or bird of the family Longipennes discharge its oily fluid at any one who worried or attacked it; but have almost invariably seen it involuntarily eject it, when hurt or frightened.

November 9.—I caught four albatrosses with a fishing-line; one of them was a female, the first I had seen. I observed no marked difference between her and males of the same species, for I have found them vary much in the dark shades upon their feathers.

I have yet found no bird of this family, whose foot was not longer than its beak.

DIOMEDEA EXULANS-Female.