THE ALBATROSS. 367 



for albatrosses, Cape petrels, or pigeons as they 

 are commonly termed, (from the supposed re- 

 semblance of their flight and bill to that of a 

 pigeon,) with a hook and line, and a piece of fat 

 pork as a bait, and a quantity of spare line to 

 let out when the bird attacked my bait, so as to 

 allow for the sailing of the ship, and give him 

 time to hook himself as comfortably as possible, 

 or as securely as desired. Many a laugh, and 

 sapient gaze, and passing remark, have I had 

 from my fellow-passengers, at the nonsense and 

 folly of '■'' fishing''' for birds : I recollect having a 

 crowd of eager, idle gazers looking on to see 

 what success would attend this novel method 

 of sporting among the feathered creation : 

 the wind was light ; and after some time spent 

 in expectation, as is customary with that humane 

 body, the fishers, fortune favoured me, for 

 a huge Albatross greedily seized my bait, 

 and hauling the ponderous bird for some dis- 

 tance through the water, at last I landed 

 him safely on deck : the strain of the line 

 was very great, (with the ship not going above 

 two or three knots an hour through the water,) 

 and I was momentarily expecting it to give way. 

 On this gigantic bird arriving on deck, its 

 enormous size, and elegant, sleek plumage, was 

 exposed to the close gaze of all the before 



