190 RAMBLES OF A XATUEALIST. 



and lines, and plunging from time to time between two 

 billows, from which they soon re- appeared holding a 

 fish in their beak. Their flight, which is as rapid as 

 that of the arrow when they suffer themselves to be 

 impelled by the wind, is slackened when they face 

 the hurricane, but in either case they rise with the 

 same ease and facility as in the calmest days. There 

 was something remarkable and most singular in the 

 sight of these birds which, with their wings extended 

 and apparently immoveable, could progress in a steady 

 and uniform manner in the face of squalls of wind 

 which would have thrown down the strongest man. 

 MM. Quoy and Gaimard long since drew attention 

 to this singular phenomenon in large aquatic birds 

 of the antarctic regions. These two observers, after 

 having thousands of times watched the albatross and 

 the frigate-bird on the wing, have hesitated to offer 

 any explanation of the manner in which their flight 

 is accomplished. Others, with less diffidence, and 

 after merely examining the same species through the 

 glass cases of our museums, have decided that this 

 mode of locomotion is the simplest thing in the 

 world. They discourse gravely of acquired velocity, 

 of an invisible tremulous movement of the wings, &c. ; 

 but for our own part, after having watched the same 

 phenomena, we are bound to admit that we agree 

 entirely with MM. Quoy and Gaimard, whose cau- 

 tious reserve we shall imitate. 



Fortifications a la Vauban, with a raised rampart 

 whose fosses are filled during high tide, occupy the 

 entire width of the isthmus which joins Saint Sebas- 

 tian to the continent and protect it on the land side. 



