390 



THE WANDERING ALBATROSS. 



feathers are black ; and tlie tail is ronndecl, and of a lead color. The 

 bill is of a pale yellow, and the legs are flesh-colored. 



These birds are found in most seas, but chiefly in those within the 

 Tropics: they are, however, often seen about the Cape of Good Hope; 

 and, towards the end of July, they collect in great numbers in Kamt- 

 schatka, and the seas which separate that part of Asia from America. 



Its powers of fllfjht are exceeding^ great; h ts a?moet constantly on> 

 the wing, and is equilly at ease during the stillest calm, or iying with 

 meteor-like swiftness before the most fnrions gale. 



They are exceedingly vonicioips, and feed an variows species of fish 

 aad raolluscse. The shoals of flying-fishy whei> ])ersecnted by their 

 enemies of the deep, make their a]^|K>al'ancc for a sf)ort flight in the 

 air^ and suffer greatly from the voi-acity of these birds. They also 

 often pursue the shmils of salmon iiitt> tine unsMitlis- of large rivers^ and 



