280 SWIMMERS. 



tember and beginning of October (the spring of this hemi- 

 sphere) associated to breed with other birds of similar habits. 

 The nests are made on the ground with earth and sedge, of 

 a round, conic form, elevated to the height of three feet, leav- 

 ing a hollow in the summit for the egg, — for the Albatross 

 lays but one, which is larger than that of a Goose, white, with 

 dull spots at the larger end ; this is good food, the white 

 never growing hard with boiling. While the female is sitting, 

 the male is constantly on the wing, and suppHes her with food. 

 During this time the female is so tame as to allow herself to 

 be pushed off the nest while her eggs are taken. But the 

 most destructive enemy of this bird is the Hawk, which steals 

 the egg whenever the female removes from it. As soon as 

 the young are able to leave the nest, the Penguins take pos- 

 session of it, and without further preparation hatch their young 

 in turn. 



The Albatross, though so large a bird, suffers itself to be 

 teased and harassed while on the wing by the Skua Gull, or 

 Lestris, from which it often alone finds means to escape by 

 settling down into the water, but never attempts resistance. 



A few examples of this species have been met with off the coasts 

 of Florida ; but it has not been seen elsewhere near our shores 

 during recent years. 



