6 THE CONDOR VoL. XI

my specimens, on the contrary, are "pearly white", but in two cases immaculate, while the third has a few almost imperceptible specks on the larger end. The longest and shortest measure: 1.50X1.04, and 1.44X1.02 inches. Once well at sea, albatrosses became conspicuous, both by their size and num- bers overshadowing all other birds. At least four species accompanied us, from' time to time, the White-capped (L)iomedea caula), Wandering (L). exulans), Sooty (Phoebetriafuliginosa), and another, with blackish bill, which was prob- ably the Yellow-nosed ( Thalassogeron culminatus). Of these, the White-capped was the most abundant, out-numbering the others' fifteen to one; usually there were, all told, at least a hundred of these birds in the wake of the ship. In addi- tion, there were, more or less constantly in sight, almost as many petrels and shearwaters, the most beautiful being a pearly Prion. These smaller followers were much more erratic and independent than the albatrosses, keeping le.ss closely to the ship, foraging .widely over the waters, with an occasional tit-bit from our "galley". 'But whenever the opportunity occurred they did not hesitate to join in the scramble, mixing fearlessly with their larger companions. While the shear- waters and, especially, the smaller petrels, seemed to beat their wings more fre- 'quently than the big fellows, their powers of flight are fully as great, and in rapid- ity of motion, especially change of direction, they have decidedly the best of it; so sudden are their movements that it is often difficult to follow them with the glass, and nothing in the flight of the larger birds impressed me so strongly as to see one of these waifs, apparently but a feather, wafted helplessly before the gale, suddenly turn, stop, and, rising lightly against the blast, dart off in a series of dips and circles as tho to mock the very elements. Owing to these habits, and the gen- eral similarity of some forms, positive identification was in most cases impracti- cable, but I think that at least six species were usually within view. Conditions for observing the albatrosses were much more favorable, and the following remarks, except as noted, apply equally to all species seen, as there ap- peared to be little difference in their habits or mode of flight, tho L). exulans was obviously much larger than the rest. So much has been written about the "mar- vellous powers of flight" possessed by these birds, that I believe one who observes them for the first time is apt to be somewhat disappointed b3r their appearance close at hand; for the heavy bill, short, thick-set body, and abnormally long and slender wings seem somewhat ungainly. Then, too, they are singularly silent birds, and this apparent lack of animation adds to the impression of stolid stupidity which their appearance inspires. But if such be the case, unfavorable criticism is soon dispelled; for the spectacle of dozens of these great birds maneuvering in a gale at sea, with an ease and assurance which baffles explanation, is positively exhiler- ating. Unlike the petrels, these massive, powerful aviators never give one the im- pression of being "swept away", even vhen under full headway "down the wind". Of the various species, L). cauta seemed somewhat bolder than the rest; usually keeping close to the ship, one would occasionally drift directly over the deck, and I have stood still with one of these birds, poised, and apparently mo- tionless, within a few feet of my head. Nevertheless, both ship and bird were gliding along at thirteen knots, and yet even at such close range it was often im- possible to detect the slightest quiver of the pinions. It is only at such times that one can appreciate their size; over the water there is no standard for comparison, and I found my shipmates constantly underestimating the expanse. L). exulans is very much larger, but I saw none under such favorable circumstances; they sometimes passed close astern, but usually followed in wider circles, hugging the waves so closely that in turning, the long pinions frequently touched the water.