WATER BIRDS. 233 



ments as might be thrown overboard. I have often 

 amused myself by dropping bits of biscuit, and watch- 

 ing the race that was made for them by our numerous 

 followers ; sometimes the powerful albatross would glide 

 by on outstretched and motionless wings and snatch up 

 the morsel; but oftener the little stormy petrel suc- 

 ceeded in picking it up, though sometimes its right 

 would be disputed by one of its more powerful neigh- 

 bours. It seems to possess more discrimination too 

 than some of the latter ; for though I have captured the 

 albatross and some of the larger sea birds by the com- 

 mon method of baiting a fish-hook with a bit of pork, I 

 never succeeded in hooking a storm petrel, though they 

 constantly followed in our wake. 



My task is done, and I lay down my pen with some 

 regret, for I have in thought lived over many pleasant 

 hours, and revisited scenes to which I am much attached. 

 I only hope my readers have derived pleasure from my 

 scanty notes, and that some may thereby be induced to 

 undertake for their own localities, what I have very 

 imperfectly attempted for Sherwood Forest. 



