372 THE ALBATROSS. 



which is daily thrown overboard. Eight 'or 

 ten days before the pairing season, the male 

 Albatrosses come to the land, fix on a spot, 

 which they scrape clear, where the intention 

 is to form the nest ; this being completed, 

 they fly away again to sea, and return a 

 few days afterwards, in company with the 

 females. 



When the wind falls light, the Albatross fishers 

 are on the alert ; it is then that all the hooks 

 and lines that can be procured on board are put 

 into requisition, and the steward receives fre- 

 quent solicitations for pieces of fat pork for bait ; j 

 some of these birds when hooked, before they l 

 can be brought on board either manage to de- 

 tach themselves from the hook, or escape by its 

 breaking. It is laughable to see, when one is 

 hooked, with what eagerness he is followed by 

 the others, (while dragged through the water 

 by his capturers,) all eager to seize the bait, 

 they consider he is monopolizing ; they pounce 

 down upon it, and look surprised to find them- 

 selves quietly perched on the waves while the 

 other poor hooked bird, bait and all, is before 

 them in rapid progress towards being taken 

 on board.* Numerous eager gazers are all 



* These birds, when brought on board, seldom utter any 



