THE BIRDS 285 



of sustained and buoyant flight equalled by no other living bird. 

 " Although during calm or moderate weather it sometimes rests 

 on the surface of the water, it is almost constantly on the wing, 

 and is equally at ease while passing over the glassy surface during 

 the stillest calm, or flying with meteor-like swiftness before the 

 most furious gale ; and the manner in which it just tops the raging 

 billows and sweeps between the gulfy waves has a hundred times 

 called forth my wonder and admiration. Although a vessel running 

 before the wind frequently sails more than two hundred miles in 

 the twenty- four hours, and that for days together, still the Albatross 

 has not the slightest difficulty in keeping up with the ship, but 

 also performs circles of many miles in extent, returning again to 

 hunt up the wake of the vessel for any substances thrown over- 

 board." 1 When on land, or suddenly dropping down on to the 

 surface of the water to seize some floating morsel, the Wanderer, 

 however, loses its grace and dignity ; " he raises his wings, his head 

 goes back, and his back goes in ; down drop two enormous webbed 

 feet, straddled out to their full extent, and with a hoarse croak, 

 between the cry of a raven and that of a sheep, he falls ' souse ' 

 into the water. Here he is at home again, breasting the waves 

 like a cork. Presently he stretches out his neck, and with great 

 exertion of his wings runs along the top of the water for seventy 

 or eighty yards, until, at last, having got sufficient impetus, he 

 tucks up his legs, and is once more fairly launched in the air." z 



The Giant Petrel, or " Nelly," as it is sometimes called (Ossi- 

 fraga gigantea), is but little inferior in size to the Wanderer, 

 whom it almost, if not quite, equals in power of flight. It haunts 

 the coasts of Kerguelen and Prince Edward Island, and other 

 lonely spots in the southern seas, on the look-out for food. In 

 habits it has been compared to a vulture by Professor Morley, who 

 says that it watches the sealers at work, and no sooner is an animal 

 killed and skinned than numbers of Giant Petrels appear, as if 

 by magic, and descend upon the carcass, tearing it with their 

 strong beaks, and fighting and quarrelling among themselves over 

 the prize. 



The Storm-Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) breeds in Scotland, 

 Ireland and in some parts of the West of England, and ranges 

 from Greenland to South Africa. It is a graceful little bird, sooty- 



1 J. Gould. Prof. Button. 



