OCCASIONAL NOTES. 209 
to a standstill, and he would certainly make no progress to windward; but 
by keeping close to the surface of the water, and as much as possible in the 
hollows between the waves, he is almost out of the wind; and in this 
comparatively calm region the impetus derived from the wind will carry him 
a long distance in exactly the opposite direction to that of the wind itself. 
This manceuvre appears to be an important factor. No doubt the almost 
imperceptible movement of the wings may assist, though that this alone is 
insufficient to account for the progress to windward appears evident from the 
powerful efforts made with the wings in rising from the water and in calm 
weather. I have never had an opportunity to observe the Albatross flying 
over land or over level water. If the manceuvre above described be an 
important factor, the birds then would have to use their wings much as they 
do in very light winds on the ocean. If very strong winds were blowing, 
they would have to settle on the land or in the water in order to remain at 
the locality —Arraur W. Bateman, in ‘ Nature.’ 
Fiicut oF THE ALBaTRoss.—There seems to be a prevailing idea 
that the Albatross in its flight is in some way~‘“assisted by the wind.” 
I think this is a mistake; the manner is well known. The method, 
I believe, admits of a very simple explanation. His secret consists in his 
power of acquiring great momentum together with the large superficial 
area of his extended wings; with scarcely a motion of his wings he will fly 
straight against a strong wind with a velocity greater than that of any race- 
horse: this is inconsistent with the idea of his being “ assisted by the 
wind.” In attempting to rise from the water (I believe he is unable to rise 
from the land or from a ship’s deck) he flaps his wings violently to get his 
body out of the water; at the same time, paddling rapidly with his webbed 
feet, he acquires a moderate degree of momentum, sufficient, with out- 
stretched wings, to carry him forward and upward upon an easy incline. 
The case is similar to that of a boy taking a run with his kite-string in his 
hand to give his kite a start. During this first rise he will generally give 
a few-heavy, lazy flaps, and then stretch his wings steadily to their full 
extent ; now, as he gradually rises, he must of course as gradually lose his 
acquired momentum till it suits him to acquire more, when he may be 
twenty, thirty, or fifty feet above the surface, but a much greater distance 
from the place where he left the water, measured on the surface; by 
slightly altering his position, by a movement of his tail, he takes a shoot 
downwards at an angle that suits his convenience, still without his wings 
outstretched. This is precisely the case of a boy shooting down a coast 
on his sled; the propelling force is the same. The bird directs his course 
mainly with his tail, the action of which upon the air is identical with 
the action of a ship’s rudder upon the water. By this downward motion, 
his velocity rapidly increasing, he acquires a degree of momentum sufficient 
2E 
