PROCELLARID.?]. 589 



liorrid ninibling noise ; here and there were a few patches 

 of grass, the only thing we couhl depend upon to assist 

 us in climbing, which must be done with extreme caution, 

 for the least sli^) or false step would dash one to atoms on 

 the rocks below. By constantly looking upwards, and 

 continuing to haul ourselves up by catching firm hold of 

 the grass, after an hour's painful toil we gained the 

 summit, where we found ourselves on an extended plain 

 of several miles' expanse, which terminates in the peak 

 composed of dark grey lava, bare, and frightful to behold. 

 We proceeded towards it, the plain gradually rising ; but 

 the walk was most fatiguing, over strong, rank grass, and 

 tern several feet high. A death-like stillness prevailed 

 in those higli regions. The prospect was altogether 

 sublime, and filled the mind with awe. The huge Alba- 

 tross here appeared to dread no interloper or enemy, 

 for the young were on the ground completely uncovered, 

 and the old ones were stalking around them. They lay 

 l)ut one egg upon the ground, where they make a kind of 

 nest by scraping the earth around it. The young is 

 entirely white, and covered with a woolly down, which is 

 very beautiful. As we approached, they snapped their 

 beaks with a very quick noise, — the only means of defence 

 they seem to possess." 



