OCEANIC BIRD LIFE 



231 



A wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) taking off from the surface. Like an aeroplane, 

 it starts best when head on to the wind. 



the food at the surface of the sea which substains them. The amount and 

 the nature of the food governs the numbers and the species of birds in 

 any particular area. 



The two bird sanctuaries off New Zealand of which we saw most were 

 Campbell Island, which will be discussed in another chapter, and the 

 Kermadecs, to which I shall return later. 



One of the most interesting of all sea-birds is the wandering albatross 

 (Diomedea exulans). In the first place, it has the biggest wing-span of 

 any bird (3 — 3V2 metres from tip to tip) ; and, in the second, it has the 

 habit, more than any other bird, of following ships, thereby enabling us 

 to observe it at close quarters. Throughout the southern hemisphere this 

 imposing glider will be seen in the wake of ships. Its natural food is cuttle- 

 fish, but it also eats a good deal of the scraps that are thrown overboard. 

 Its ability to glide is amazing and it can do so, its wings quite rigid, for 

 hours on end, elegantly taking advantage of the winds thrown up from 

 rolling wa\es. Albatrosses sweep acros the sea in wide circular movements 

 and can glide in the wake of a ship whatever the direction of the wind. 

 Now they will be hard by the ship, now right out on the horizon; and 

 often they will ride the waves several nautical niiles astern, eating the 

 scraps. 



