THE ALBATROSS. 139 



colour, blotched with black. The young run about as 

 soon as hatched, but they are not able to fly for some 

 time ; the old ones lead them to their food, but do not 

 feed them. The parents are very watchful of their young, 

 and use no little art to draw off the attention of any one, 

 who has approached their nest, feigning to be disabled, 

 and ready to fall into their hands. They feed chiefly on 

 worms, and are useful in a garden, to clear it of these 

 reptiles. The Lapwings are lively and active, ever on 

 the wing, and flying very high. Their cry is rather 

 plaintive, resembling the syllable pee-wit. When kept in 

 a garden they become very familiar : it is necessary to 

 feed them with bread at the season that their natural food 

 fails them. 



THE ALBATROSS. 



THIS bird is larger than the swan ; its length is from 

 three feet and a half to four feet ; its wings, when extended, 

 measure ten feet. The bill is of a dirty yellow ; the top 

 of the head ashy ; the body while, crossed with black 

 lines on the back and wings, and spotted behind ; the 

 greater quills are black ; the tails dusky ; legs flesh-coloured. 



Albatrosses are found from the tropics to the highest . 

 latitudes, yet explored; associating in vast flocks, they 

 prey upon the molluscae and fish, not confining themselves 

 to the very small. They are caught by means of hooks 

 baited with fish, not for the sake of their flesh, but for 

 their bones and intestines, which serve many different 

 purposes. Their cry is harsh, resembling the braying of 

 an ass. Their nest resembles that of the flamingos the 

 eggs are white, with some dull spots ; they are four inches 

 and a half long. While the female sits, the male supplies 

 her with food; she is then so tame, that she may be 

 pushed off her nest. The hawk is a great enemy to the 

 Albatross, darting upon the egg and carrying it off, if the 

 female rises for a moment from her nest: there is also a 

 species of gull which persecutes the Albatross on the 

 wing. The young have no sooner left the nest than the 

 penguin takes possession of it, to hatch her eggs. 



