THE ni.«i(K AlJiATROSS." 



The Black Albatrosses, whieli arc gregarious, build tlieir nests close to each other, and 

 construct them of mud, raised five or six inches, and slightly depressed at the top. 



A naturalist says : " There was something extremely grotesque in the appearance of 

 these birds, standing on their respective hillocks, motionless, like so many statues, until 

 we approached close to them, when they set up the strangest clattering with their beaks, 

 and, if we touched them, squirted on us a deluge of foetid oity fluid from the stomach. 

 . . . The D. c///oy'o/7///»r//(^<! builds a solitary nest ; retiring to eomc sheltered corner, and 

 selecting in particular " the small drains that draw the water otf the laud into the 

 ravines. There it runs up its nest to the height of ten or twelve inches, of a cylindrical 

 form, with a small ditch around the base. . . . "We could not help admiring the utter 

 unconsciousness of danger displayed by them on our approach ; they never showed the 

 least disposition to move out of our way ; even when kicked or pulled off their nests, they 

 made not the smallest show of I'esistance, but quietly returned to their post, or stood still 

 until we passed on." 



• Diomi'dpa Fuliaiuosa. 



