WATER FOWL. 367 



CHAPTER III. 



OF THE ALBATROSS, THE FIRST OF THE GULL KIND. 



THOUGH this is one of the largest and most for- 

 midable birds of Africa and America, yet we have 

 but few accounts to enlighten us in its history. 

 The figure of the bird is thus described by 

 Edwards : " The body is rather larger than that 

 of the pelican ; and its wings, when extended, ten 

 feet from tip to tip. The bill, which is six inches 

 long, is yellowish, and terminates in a crooked 

 point. The top of the head is of a bright brown ; 

 the back is of a dirty deep spotted brown ; and 

 the belly and under the wing is white ; the toes, 

 which are webbed, are of a flesh colour." 



Such are the principal traits in this bird's figure ; 

 but these lead us a very short way in its history, 

 and our naturalists have thought fit to say nothing 

 more. However, I am apt to believe this bird to 

 be the same with that described by Wicquefort, 

 under the title of the Alcatraz ; its size, its colours, 

 and its prey, incline me to think so. He describes 

 it as a kind of great gull, as large in the body as 

 a goose, of a brown colour, with a long bill, and 

 living upon fish, of which they kill great numbers. 



This bird is an inhabitant of the tropical climates, 

 and also beyond them as far as the Straits of Ma- 

 gellan in the South Seas. It is one of the most 

 fierce and formidable of the aquatic tribe, not only 

 living upon fish, but also such small water fowl 



