CHAPTER XVII 



THE ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS 



(Order Procellariiformes) 



F the very few large groups of birds that may be diagnosed by a 

 single character, the present forms a notable example, since all of 

 its members agree in possessing tubular external nostrils, whence 

 they are often and appropriately called the Tubinares, or Tube- 

 nosed Swimmers. In addition to this character it may be pointed out that 

 they are all strong flying birds of the ocean, possessing long, narrow wings, and 

 fully webbed front toes, while the first or hind toe is absent or reduced to a 

 mere rudiment. 



Although there are some differences of opinion as to the affinities of this 

 group, it seems beyond question that they are most closely related to the Slegano- 

 podes, and are conveniently and quite naturally divided into three families, the 

 first of which includes the Albatrosses (Diomedeida). 



THE ALBATROSSES 



(Family Diomedeidce) 



To those who " go down to the sea in ships " one of the marvels is the wonderful 

 power of flight enjoyed by the Albatrosses. On tireless wing, hour after hour, 

 day after day, they "wheel round and round, and forever round the ship now 

 far behind, now sweeping past in a long rapid survey like a perfect skater on 

 an uneven field of ice. There is no effort; watch as closely as you will, you 

 rarely or never see a stroke of the mighty pinion. The flight is generally near 

 the water, often close to it. You lose sight of the bird as he disappears in the 

 hollow between the waves, and catch him again as he rises over the crest; but 

 how he rises and whence comes the propelling force is to the eye inexplicable; 

 he merely alters the angle at which the wings are inclined; usually they are 

 parallel to the water and horizontal; but when he turns to ascend or makes a 

 change in his direction, the wings then point at an angle, one to the sky, the other 

 to the water." - BULLER. 



While many ingenious theories have been propounded to account for the 

 amazing power which these birds possess of sailing in the air for perhaps an hour 

 at a time without the slightest apparent motion of the expanded wings, we are 

 still without a wholly satisfactory explanation. "The Albatross has," says 



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