THE ALBATROSS. 391 



and a yard high, or somewhat better, with small stakes driven into 

 the ground in a circle, and interwoven with broom and other raddles ; 

 in which manner there have been taken of them in one morning, fifty 

 dozens at a driving, which, at 55. per dozen (the ancient price for 

 them), comes to 12/. 125.; but at several drifts that have been 

 anciently made in the same morning, there have been as many taken 

 as have been sold for 30^. So that some years the profit of them has 

 amounted to fifty or threescore pounds, besides what the generous 

 proprietor usually presents his relations, and the nobility, and gentry 

 of the county withall, which he constantly does in a plentiful manner, 

 sending them to their houses in crates alive, so that feeding them 

 with livers and other entrals of beasts, they may kill them at what 

 distance of time they please, according as occasions present them- 

 selves, they being accouuted a good dish at the most plentiful! 

 tables. 



"But they commonly appoint three days of driving them, within 

 fourteen days, or thereabout, of the second or third of June ; which, 

 while they are doing, some have observed a certain old one that 

 seems to be somewhat more concerned than the rest, being clamor- 

 ous, and striking down upon the very heads of the men, which has 

 given ground of suspicion that they have some government amongst 

 them, and that this is their prince, that is so much concerned for its 

 subjects. 



" And 'tis further observed, that when there is great plenty of 

 them, the Lent corn of the country is so much the better, and so the 

 cow pastures too, by reason they pick up all the worms, and the fern 

 flyes, which though bred in the fern, yet nip and feed on the young 

 corn and grass, and hinder their growth." 



We next come to the largest sea-bird that flies, the Wander- 

 ing Albatross, of which we have already partly spoken ; but 

 large as they are to the eye, they are not so in reality, for so 

 abundantly covered are they with feathers, that, when plucked, 

 they appear not above half their original size, and when cleaned, 

 their weight is comparatively trifling. With this light bod}*-, 

 and an immense spread of wing, our surprise is lessened at 

 their being able to venture so far from land ; Captain King * 

 having met with them almost a thousand miles from the 

 nearest shore. 



It is a pleasing relief to the eye, when sailing over the 

 landless oceans frequented by the Albatross, and where, except 

 now and then a passing sea-bird, nothing meets the sight but 



* King's Australia, vol. ii. 



