240 



deep, there are some associations which even tyrants 

 form, either by caprice or necessity. The albatross 

 has a peculiar affection for the penguin. They chuse 

 the same places for breeding, some distant uninhabited 

 island, where the ground slants to the sea, as the pen- 

 guin is not formed either for flying or climbing. In 

 such places their nests are seen together, as if they 

 stood in need of mutual assistance. Our men upon 

 Falkland islands were often amazed at the union pre- 

 served between those birds. In that bleak and desolate 

 spot, where they no way dreaded the encroachments 

 of men, they seemed to make their abode as comfort- 

 able as they expected it to be lasting. They built with 

 an amazing degree of uniformity ; their nests covering 

 fields by thousands, and resembling a regular planta. 

 tion. In the middle on high, the albatross raised its 

 nest, built of heath, sticks, and long grass, about two 

 feet above the surface; round this the penguins made 

 their lower settlements, rather in holes in the ground, 

 anil most usually eight penguins to one albatross. 



Nothingis a stronger proof that the presence of man 

 not only destroys the society of meaner animals, but 

 their instincts also. These nests are now totally de- 

 stroyed, the society is broke up, and albatross and 

 penguins have gone to breed upon more desert shores 

 in greater security. 



The Swan is as delicate in its appetite, as elegant in 

 As form. Its chief food is corn, bread, herbs growing 

 in the water, and roots and seeds, which are found 

 near the margin. It prepares a nest in some retired 

 part of the bank, and chiefly where there is an islet in 

 the stream. This is composed of water-plants, long 

 grass, and sticks ; and the male and female assist in 

 forming it with great assiduity. The swan lays seven 

 or eight es^gs, white, much larger than those of a 

 goose. It sits near two months before its young are 

 excluded^ which are ash-coloured, for some months. 

 It is dangerous to approach the old ones, when their 

 little family is feeding round them. They soon take the 



