PROCELLARID.E. 537 



fly ; and in this state tliey are often attacked by 

 Grulls and otlier sea-birds, wlio compel tliem to dis- 

 gorge tlieir food, that it may be shared by their 

 feathered enemies. Their nests are built on the 

 islands of the South Sea ; they are composed of 

 clay, mixed with vegetable remains, are of a round 

 form, and two or three feet high. These birds 

 deposit only one very large egg : the parent is said 

 to provide for her offspring during the space of nine 

 months. 



The type of the sub -family is — 



The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans). The 

 Wandering Albati'oss is by far the largest and most pow- 

 ei'ful species of its tribe, and from its great strength and 

 ferocious disposition is held in terror by all the birds by 

 which it is surrounded. It is most abundant between 

 the 30th and 60th degrees of south latitude, and a]:>pears 

 to be equally numerous in all parts of the Southern 

 Ocean. It is confined to no particular locality, but would 

 seem to be constantly engaged in making the circuit of 

 the globe in tliat particular zone allotted by nature for its 

 habitation. The open sea is, m fact, its natural range, 

 and this it never leaves except for the puryjose of breed- 

 ing, when it usually resorts to rocky islands the most 

 difficult of access. " The powers of flight of the Wandering- 

 Albatross," says Mr. Gould, " are much greater than those 

 of any other bird that has come under my observation. 

 Although in calm or moderate weather it sometimes 

 rests on the surface of the water, it is almost constantly on 

 the wing, and is equally at ease while sailing over the 

 glassy sea during the stillest calm, or when sweeping 

 with arrow-like swdftness before the most furious gale ; 

 and the way in which it just tops the raging billows and 

 sweeps between tlie gulfy weaves has a hundred times 

 tailed forth ni}^ w^onder and admiration." Although a 

 vessel running before the \v4nd frequently sails more than 

 two hundred miles m the twenty-four hours, and that foi- 

 days together, still the Albatross has not the slightest 

 difficulty in keeping up with the ship, but also peiforms 

 circles of many miles in extent, returning from these 

 excursions to hunt up the wake of the vessel for any sub- 



