WANDERING ALBATROS.— DiOTMrfea exulaiis. 



from side to side with extended pinions. Sometimes the bird does bend the last joint, 

 but apparently merely for the purpose of checking its progress, like a ship backing her 

 topsails. It is found in the Southern Seas, and is very famiUar to all those who have 

 voyaged through that portion of the ocean. Like the petrel, it follows the ships for the 

 sake of obtaining food, and so voracious is the bird that it has been observed to dash at a 

 piece of blubber weighing between three and four pounds, and gulp it down entire. 

 After this dainty morsel, the bird was not able to rise from the water, but yet swam 

 vigoi'ously after another piece of blubber on a hook, snapped at it, and was only saved 

 from capture by the hook breaking in its mouth. 



Angling for Albatros is quite a favourite amusement, and the bird often gives good 

 sport, sometimes rising into the air and being drawn down on deck like a boy's kite, but 

 generally hanging back with all its might and resisting the pull of the line by means of 

 its wings squared in tlie water. It is no easy matter to haul in an Albatros under such 

 circumstances, and the bird often escapes by the hook tearing out or the line breaking. 

 Nothing, however, teaches it wisdom, for in a few minutes it is quite as ready to take the 

 bait again. Even those wliich have been captured, marked by a ribbon tied round their 

 necks and set at liberty, wdl follow the vessel as soon as they recover themselves. 



Wlien an Albatros is hooked, the others become ve:y angry, thinking that their 

 companion is monopolising the tempting food. Down they sweep accordingly, pounce on 

 the spot, and when settled on the water are very much astonished to see their companion 

 towed away and themselves left sitting on the waves with nothing to eat. Shoiild one of 

 these birds be shot, the remainder poimce upon it at once and soon entomb their late 



