394 THE ALBATROSS. 



On the 23d of July, 1832, in latitude 40« 16' 

 south, longitude 46*^ 45' east, an Albatross was 

 hooked ; and when about to haul it in, the line 

 (which was out its whole length) accidentally 

 slipped ; the bird consequently swallowed hook, 

 bait, and a portion of the line ; the remainder 

 hung out from his bill. He was seen about the 

 ship in the afternoon with a long portion of the 

 line pending from the beak. This morning he 

 was seen following the ship, but the length of 

 line which hung from his beak was now reduced 

 to very short dimensions : he had, probably by 

 gradually swallowing, thus reduced it. From 

 this bird being thus marked, we have ascertained 

 that he has followed the ship for two days ; and 

 as we have been sailing at the rate of two hun- 

 dred miles per day, (from the irregular flight 

 of this bird, their actual flight may be correctly 

 quadrupled,) it has followed us in a direct line 

 four hundred miles. How long previously it had 

 been about the ship, or subsequently followed 

 it, we had no means of ascertaining, as the fol- 

 lowing day none of the Albatrosses liad a string- 

 pending from the beak : our friend, no doubt, 

 having swallowed the whole of it. 



Sometimes the bait would attract an Albatross, 

 cause him to alight, and shake it with his 

 beak; Init, ''putting on a knowing look," he 



