148 BIRD WORLD. 



the Indian jungle; he is dressed too warmly to enjoy 

 the climate, for one thing, nor does he understand the 

 kind of hunting he would have to do there. He 

 needs wide plains where he can fly silently for miles 

 and miles until he finds a hare crouching behind a 

 hummock. And the Toucan of Brazil and the Horn- 

 bill of India would find no fruit in the barren north 

 country. 



Perhaps the greatest traveler, after all, is the bird 

 mentioned in the verses at the head of this story. 



Fig. 26. — Showing Great Length of Albatross' Wings. 



This traveler's name shows his manner of life, — the 

 Wandering Albatross. He travels all over the south- 

 ern seas from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn 

 and around again ; people have watched him from 

 their ships, and every one who has seen him has 

 wondered at his huge wings and the skill with which 

 he uses them. 



He never seems to hurry or to work hard, even 

 against a fierce wind ; now on one side of the ship, 

 now on the other, now low over the water, now high 

 in the air, often without a stroke of his wings. 



