A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 327.

459. 2. Diomedea fusca, Aud. Dusky Albatross.

Plate CCCCVII. Adult.

Bill black, much compressed, its ridge carinate, with its basal outline running up on the forehead into a very acute angle, lower mandible with a groove on each side in its whole length, as far as the unguis; feet yellow; head and upper part of the neck greyish-black, tinged with brown, the rest of the neck, all the lower parts, the back and rump light brownish-grey, scapulars darker, wings brownish-black, primary quills and tail-feathers greyish-black with white shafts; eyelids narrowly margined with white feathers, their anterior part excepted.

Adult, length, 34; wing, 21; tail, 11; bill, 4¹⁰/₁₂.

Off the Columbia River.

Dusky Albatross, Diomedea fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 116.

GENUS III. PROCELLARIA, Linn. FULMAR.

Bill of about the length of the head, or somewhat shorter, robust, straight, moderately compressed, with the tip decurved; upper mandible with the nostrils dorsal, separated by a thin septum, covered by an elevated horny case, and opening directly forwards, the ridge nearly straight or concave in its outline, laterally sloping or convex, separated by a groove from the sides, which are erect and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and in their outline slightly recurved from the base to the unguis, which is strong, decurved, and acute; lower mandible with the angle long, narrow, acute, the sides erect, with a groove in their whole length, the edges sharp and direct, the very short dorsal line ascending and slightly concave, the edges decurved at the end. Head rather large, ovate; neck rather short; body full. Feet of moderate length, stout; tibia bare for a short space below; tarsus a little compressed, reticulated with angular scales; hind toe a slight prominence with a conical claw; fore toes long, slender, scutellate, connected by striated even webs; fourth toe slightly shorter than third. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage full, close, elastic, rather compact above. Wings very long, narrow, the first quill longest. Tail short, or of moderate length, of from twelve to sixteen feathers.

* Bill robust; tail of more than twelve feathers.