314 THE LAEID^E. 



To follow in the wake of some passing ship, probably because 

 the agitation of the waves brings to the surface the small fry 

 of marine animals which are their principal food, appears to de- 

 light them. They also pounce upon anything that falls over- 

 board, even though it should be a man. On one occasion a sailor 

 fell into the sea from a French vessel, and could not be imme- 

 diately rescued because there was no boat in a fit state to be 

 lowered. Before such could take place, a flock of Albatrosses which 

 followed in the ship's wake pounced upon the unfortunate man, and 

 commenced to peck his head and arms. Being unable to buffet 

 both with the sea and the enemies which surrounded him, the man 

 perished under the very eyes of his comrades. 



The Albatrosses and Petrels may be said to be the Vultures of 

 the ocean. They may also be said to be its scavengers, for they 

 cleanse the sea of all the putrefied animal substances which float 

 on its surface. 



At the breeding season, which varies according to the hemi- 

 sphere inhabited by them, the Albatrosses arrive at their favourite 

 haunts, generally in an exhausted state ; but, however thin they 

 may be, they soon grow fat upon the abundant supplies of food 

 which they find in the vicinity. In the end of September, to 

 build their nests, they go in immense numbers to the island of 

 Tristan d'Acunha, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Their nests, 

 which are about three feet in height, are formed of niud. Their 

 flesh is very hard, and can only be rendered eatable by laying 

 it in salt for a long time, and afterwards boiling it, flavouring it 

 with some piquant sauce. Nevertheless sailors, as well as the 

 inhabitants of the desolate southern regions, use it, but only in 

 the absence of better food. 



The most remarkable species are the Common Albatross 

 (Diomedea exulans), which frequents the seas washing the 

 south of Africa ; the Black-browed Albatross (D. melanopfays) , 

 which also inhabits the seas round the Cape of Good Hope ; the 

 Brown Albatross (D. faliginosa) ; the Yellow and Black-beaked 

 Albatross (D. chlororinches), which, like the preceding species, 

 inhabits the seas of the South Pole.* 



* Captain Cook mentions a variety frequently captured by the inhabitants of 

 Kamtschatka and the Kurile Islands. 



