PROCELLARIID.E. 7 



The great breeding-place of the Albatross is Tristan da Cunha, a tiny mountainous 

 island in the South Atlantic Ocean. In Moseley's notes on the voyage of the ' Challenger,' 

 describing Tristan da Cunha, is contained the following interesting account of the breeding 

 of the Albatrosses : — " The Albatrosses take up their abode in separate pairs here and 

 there amongst the Penguins or under the trees where there are none of these birds, the 

 latter situation evidently being preferred. The nest is cylindrical in shape, and made of 

 masses of grass and sedge, intermixed with clay. The nest cavity at the top of this solid 

 cylinder is very shallow, and the edge overhangs, through, it is said, the sitting bird 

 picking away the ring of which it is made as it sits. One of these nests measured 

 fourteen inches in diameter, and was ten inches high. They are so compact that when 

 deserted by their owners and the grass has grown over them they make a convenient 

 seat. Only one egg is laid, about the size of that of a goose, or a little larger, elongated, 

 with one end larger than the other. When approached the birds remain sitting quietly 

 or stand by them without attempting to fly away. If disturbed while on their nests they 

 will snap their bills. The male is usually seen with the female at the nest, and marks of 

 affection frequently pass between them. The egg is held in a kind of pouch while it is 

 being incubated, and the bird has to be driven right off its nest before it can be 

 ascertained whether it contains an egg or not. The breeding of these birds takes place 

 in October, November, and December, the summer time of regions lying south of the 

 Equator. The Great Albatross (Z>. exulans) also nests on Tristan da Cunha, within the 

 crater of the highest cone, 7000 feet above sea-level, and their mode of nidification, 

 courtship, &c., is very similar to that of the preceding species." The nests are of course 

 rather larger, and the egg more like that of a Swan than a Goose. 



The Albatross is easily caught at sea with a baited hook, the only difficulty being to 

 pay out sufficient line to keep the bait stationary while the ship is forging ahead through 

 the water and the bird is making up its mind to seize the bait. The birds see it directly, 

 as their sight is marvellous, but they have to settle on the water first, and they well 

 know that rising again is a tedious job. In this, however, they are much assisted if 

 there is plenty of wind and a good-sized wave to strike off from. It is then interesting 

 to notice how they run along, rising higher out of the water at each stroke, till they 

 fairly push themselves clear off the undulating surface. To entice a bird down as quickly 

 as possible it is a good plan to throw overboard a handful of scraps, making the bait 

 keep amongst them. The line is floated by means of corks placed close to the 

 hook, which should be a treble one, as there is no time to lose, and the bird must be 

 hooked directly he seizes the bait. Both line and hook should be light, to float as long 



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