112 



ANIMALS OF LAND AND SEA 



drawn along through power originating in the engines of the 

 ship itself. Other sea birds, especially gulls, arc fond of bal- 

 ancing themselves on this air column. 



In a dead calm the albatross is a pitiable object. He sits on 

 the water, rarely attempting to fly. He can only rise with the 



Figs. 222-239. 

 Grubs of various Beetles. 



Figs. 246-250. 

 Some Strepsipterans. 



For explanations of the figures see pp. xvii, xviii. 



greatest difficulty after a prodigious amount of splashing and 

 flapping, and his very slow, heavy and laborious progress is by 

 an alternation of clumsy flapping and gliding, suggesting the 

 flight of an awkward lazy pelican, of which he soon tires; in 

 fact he is all hut helpless. The albatross, the most wonderful 

 flier among the birds, is kept in the air not by any efforts of 

 his own, but by a combination of strong wind and waves, and 



