372 HISTORY or 



face of the sea. Upon this they again put forth their effoits to 

 rise ; and thus alternately ascend and descend at their ease. But 

 it sometimes happens," says my author, " that in these slumber- 

 ing flights, they are oflf their guard, and fall upon deck, where 

 they are taken." 



What truth there may be in this account I will not take 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 ac- 

 cesses of fatigue ; but night and day upon the wing, are always 

 prowling, yet always emaciated and hungry. 



But though this bird be one of the most formidable tyrants of 

 the deep, there are some associations which even tyrants them- 

 selves form, to which they are induced either by caprice or ne- 

 cessity. 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 penguin 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 regularity with which they built together. In that bleak 

 and desolate spot, where the birds had long continued undis- 

 turbed possessors, and no way dreaded the encroachment of men, 

 they seemed to make their abode as comfortable as they expected 

 it to be lasting. They were seen to build with an amazing de- 

 gree of uniformity ; their nests covering fields by thousands, and 

 resembling a regular plantation. In the middle, o.. high, the 

 albatross raised its nest, on heath, sticks, and long grass, about 

 two feet above the surface : round this the penguins made their 

 lower settlements, rather in holes in the ground, and most usually 

 eight penguins to one albatross. Nothing is a stronger proof of 

 Mr Buffon's fine observation, that the presence of man not only 

 destroys the society of meaner animals, but their instincts also. 

 These nests are now, I am told, totally destroyed ; the society 

 is broke up ; and the albatross and penguin have gone to breed 

 upon m ore desert shores, in greater security. * 

 * The Albatross, is also called the man-of-war bird. In the West Indies 



