380 THE ALBATROSS. 



eastward of the Cape, four or five at the utmost 

 only being visible ; the last two or three days 

 they have been more numerous, the large white 

 species having disappeared for some time ; but 

 on approaching the islands before mentioned, 

 their numbers increased, although we did not 

 see the islands. As we approached towards 

 King's Island, at the entrance of Bass's Straits, 

 this species had forsaken us. These birds, 

 as well as all the Albatross genus, Cape 

 Petrels, and other birds, follow the ship dur- 

 ing the whole of the night, reposing for a 

 short period on the water, in which position 

 they have been passed close by ships, riding 

 like a duck on the water, but they seldom re- 

 main long on the waves, usually alighting for 

 food, and soon resume their flight. 



I directed my attention to observe whether 

 these birds followed the ship during the night, 

 and the result of those observations was a 

 decision in the affirmative, as marked birds 

 have been seen about the ship for days together, 

 when the strong gales have carried the vessel at 

 a daily rapid rate through the water. I have 

 seen, occasionally, the Cape Petrels and Alba- 

 trosses flying near the stern of the vessel as late 

 as midnight ; and it is not unusual to hear the 



