190 Voyage of the Novara. 



When an albatross has hooked itself, the full strength of a 

 man is requisite to draw it on hoard, for the bird, in its despair, 

 dives and keeps its wings spread under water, so that the 

 resistance is very considerable, and frequently even the strongest 

 lines are broken. This cannot be wondered at when their size 

 is considered, as they measure from 10 to 14 feet across the ex- 

 tended wings, while their weight amounts to from 10 to 18 lbs. 



Arrived on deck, none of these sea-birds are able to fly 

 away ; they move very clumsily on their webbed feet, and can 

 only rise after a slanting spring, which, however, they cannot 

 accomplish on firm ground ; if in the water these birds 

 want to rise into the air whilst swimming, they flutter their 

 outspread wings for a little, and use their webbed feet in a 

 kind of rowing motion, in order to acquire the requisite 

 impetus. The albatross defends itself with its bill, which 

 is often four to five inches long, and care must be taken 

 to avoid beintr wounded in catchino- them. We also remarked 

 that the Cape pigeons, in their rage at being captured, vomited 

 up a slimy greasy substance. 



The latter bird was of course new to us, and afibrdcd us 

 much amusement. Many were knocked over with the fowling- 

 piece, especially when, in their inquisitiveness, they came too 

 near the boats, which, as often as our rate of progress ad- 

 mitted, were launched with the view of adding to our collection 

 of objects of natural history. 



In shooting an albatross large shot must be used, as, at 

 a distance of 15 or 20 feet, small shot do not penetrate the 



