WATER FOWL. 369 



ever, the weight of their bodies, only thus half 

 supported, brings them down, and they are seen 

 descending, with a pretty rapid motion, to the 

 surface of the sea. Upon this they again put 

 forth their efforts to rise ; and thus alternately 

 ascend and descend at their ease. But it some- 

 times happens," says my author, " that, in these 

 slumbering flights, they are off their guard, and 

 fall upon deck, where they are taken." 



What truth there may be in this account I will 

 not take it upon me to determine ; but certain it 

 is, that few birds float upon the air with more ease 

 than the albatross, or support themselves a longer 

 time in that element. They seem never to feel 

 the accesses of fatigue ; but, night and day upon 

 the wing, are always prowling, yet always ema- 

 ciated and hungry. 



But though this bird be one of the most formid- 

 able tyrants of the deep, there are some unions 

 which even tyrants themselves form, to which 

 they are induced either by caprice or necessity. 

 The albatross seems to have a peculiar affection 

 for the penguin, and a pleasure in its society. 

 They are always seen to choose 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 and 

 protection. Captain Hunt, who for some time 

 commanded at our settlement upon Falkland 

 Islands, assures me, that he was often amazed at 

 the union preserved between these birds, and the 



VOL iv. A a 



