THE OSPftEY. 



12* 



Latin and Tanagra intended to be the trans- 

 literation of a native name: Pyrr/iu/a is of 

 Greek origin and the erroneous Tanagra again 

 comes in: the Greek Cypselus and the caco- 

 donvm Tanagra next come to view. Mos1 of 

 the others are as bad as these. 



Again, what shall be done in the case of 

 Tanagra? This name is the result of a mis- 

 reading and partial inversion of a native Bra- 

 zilian word Tangara. Shall we reject it alto- 

 gether? or, shall we alter the name to Tangara ' 

 or keep it a- it is? The incorrect form has been 

 almost universally adopted, even by the strong- 

 est advocates of classical procedure and so, in 

 fact, have many others of the names quoted. 

 But here we have barbarous names, hybrid 

 names, monstrous names! 



How shall such names be made to accord with 



linguistic rules.' Or shall they be superseded 

 entirely by others? They are mostly tolerably 

 euphonious and those whose sensibilities are 

 not disturbed by appreciation of their etymolo- 

 gical monstrosity will have no cause to find 

 fault with them. ••Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis 

 folly to be wise." On the other hand, there are 

 none who would not be offended by such com- 

 pounds as Emberizitanagra, Pyrrhulotanagra, 

 Merulisynallaxis or the like. If we accept the 

 names as they were originally formed, we have 

 euphonious (or at least not decidedly cacophon- 

 ous names and they are as good as meaningless 

 or "nonsense" names. But are all meaningless 

 or non-classical names to be abrogated? The 

 prospect, then, is frightful! But we will wait 

 to near further bet'.. re we complain more. 



Notes. 



The Ai.hatkoss and its Absence of Fear. 



-By the time we had approached Tristan da 

 Cunlia three or four species of Albatross had 

 congregated round the ship, as many as thirty 

 birds settling on the water astern in a manner 

 highly satisfactory for close and continuous 

 observation. After half a gale of wind a lull 

 not infrequently occurs, when the speed is re- 

 duced to two or three knots; then the hungry 

 creatures literally clamor for food. Directly a 

 bird intends to alight the legs appear straddling 

 downward in ungainly fashion a moment when 

 even an Albatross looks like an illbalanced 

 goose of unwieldy size. For half a minute it 

 runs along the surface of the wave-, treading 

 water, s. i to speak, until the enormous wings 

 become manageable. Then the bird swims with 

 both wings thrown back, like a pair of lateen 

 sails, a very Argonaut on the translucent sea. 

 At length the difficulty is overcome, the wings 

 are packed away, and - like a large gull it rides 

 the waves with consummate ease. Sometimes 

 it paddles to and fro, or, again, it dive- grace- 

 fully beneath the surface after squids or similar 

 ocean dainties. Half a dozen birds, perhaps, 

 gravely assemble to inspect an empty beer bottle 

 thrown overboaid, to bob up and down idly upon 

 the waves, and inquisitive bills peek vigorously 

 at the unsatisfactory flotsam, until a battle 

 royal disperses the family party. The wiser 

 ..ins meanwhile hover in midair, craning their 

 neck- to throw penetrating glances from a 

 superi. >r height. 



With the birds settling by the dozen, it is 

 easy enough to capture specimens for examina- 

 tion, without causing injury or pain. Any 

 sharply barbed hook is altogether superfluous. 

 The Albatrosses absolutely enjoy the excite- 

 ment, and the sport obtained is not without a 

 novel interest. A small metal frame should be 

 made in the shape of a hollow triangle, attached 

 to a hundred yards of stout line, and kept afloat 

 by a good-sized piece of cork. The sides of the 

 metal frame are then covered with bits of fat 



pork, the hard skin of which is securely bound 

 thereto: the bait is thrown astern, and the line 

 is slowly paid out. Presently a great Albatross 

 swoops throught the air. impelled by curiositj 

 to investigate tile nature of the floating Cork. 

 It settles before the dainty morsel of food. 

 numbers of bin's follow suit, each one made 

 bold by competition, and then the sport begins. 

 At this moment additional line must be given in 

 or. lei t.. compensate for the progression of the 

 ship, thus enabling the bird to seize the desired 

 food. With a sudden rush the supreme effort is 

 made. Once or twice the attempt proves ineffec- 

 tual, but. rendered bold by greediness, a final 

 grab finds the curved bill securely wedged inside 

 the apex of the triangle, as the tierce tugs mi t In- 

 line quickly indicate. Steadily the haul is made. 

 hand over hand, until a helpless Albatross is 

 bodily lifted on to the poop in an absolutely un- 

 injured condition. A slackened line euabli - t he 

 bird to escape, and if scattered wits permitted 

 such an effort, sudden Might would also obtain 

 release. The other birds invariably commence 

 to attack a captured cmrade. a steady pull being 

 required, even if the line does cut your hands, 

 to save it from its friends. 



Once safely on deck, the mandibles are tied 



together, for otherwise tin- bird throws up an 

 oily fluid, a disagreeable habit possessed by all 

 the tribe. Subject to this precaution, it may 

 wander gravely around to survey the new hori- 

 zon of life. The large eyes gaze with truly 

 pathetic confidence, expressive of anything but 

 fear. It is a strange specticle to witness the in- 

 quisitive bird solemnly waddle to and fro among 

 the equally inquisitive human beings around. 

 True, it objects slightly to the process of meas- 

 urement, pecking sharply by way of protest, 

 but a gentle box oil the ear soon induces submis- 

 sion as the dimensions are rapidly noted, the 

 Albatross meanwhile reposing affectionately in 

 the arms of the second officer. The specimen 

 happens to be a small one. but the wing expan- 

 sion from tip to tip is no less than ten feet; the 



