368 * THE ALBATROSS. 



disbelieving passengers, who flocked from cabin 

 and steerage to view the splendid prize, which 

 excited both their surprise and admiration, as it 

 lay on the deck, with expanded wings, and half 

 drowned from having been dragged some distance 

 through the water. Nothing more was afterwards 

 heard of the size of the bird being exaggerated ; 

 and it proved for a long time after a subject 

 of conversation, all uniting in pronouncing it 

 an enormous and splendid production of the 

 feathered creation. A second specimen was 

 caught soon after : the first measure'd four- 

 teen feet from the extremity of one wing to that 

 of the other ; and the second, ten feet four inches. 

 There was a slight difference of plumage in the 

 two birds ; one having the upper part of the 

 head and back of a beautiful pencilled white ; 

 while the upper part of the head and back of 

 the other was black. The skin, on dissecting 

 the birds, was found to contain a very large 

 quantity of oil, as is usual with the oceanic 

 birds. A cluster of cartilaginous tumors was 

 found attached to the web of the foot o f one of 

 the birds. The pharynx and oesophagus are 

 capable of being distended to a very large size, 

 which enables the bird to swallow large pieces of 

 food entire. 



At certain seasons of the year they retire to 



