THE ALBATROSS. 75 



THE ALBATROSS 



Is an inhabitant of the tropical climates, and also beyond as 

 far as the straits of Magellan, and even to Cape Horn, where it 

 abounds, as well as about the Cape of Good Hope. Its body is 

 larger than that of the swan, and its wings have ten feet of ex- 

 pansion. The bill, which is six inches long, is yellow, and ter- 

 minates in a crooked point : the top of the head is of a bright 

 brown, but the back is much darker ; and under the belly and 

 wings, it is perfectly white. 



This bird, which is reckoned the first and the principal of the 

 gull kind, not only eats fish, but also devours such small water- 

 fowl as it can take by surprise. Like all of the same kind, it 

 preys on the wing, and frequently pursues the flying-fish which 

 has been forced out of the sea by the dolphin. If we except 

 the frigate pelican, there is perhaps no other bird that is capable 

 of supporting itself for such a length of time on the wing as the 

 albatross. Except during the season of incubation, it seldom 

 approaches the land, but continues night and day hovering in the 

 air in search of its prey, stimulated by hunger, and apparently 

 insensible of fatigue. 



This feathered tyrant of the deep, which is not only one of the 

 largest of the African and American birds, but also one of the 

 most formidable of all those that prey upon the waters, seems to 

 have a peculiar affection for the penguin, and a pleasure in its 

 society. They always choose the same situation for their nests, 

 which is in some distant and uninhabited island. In those places 

 their nests are built in close vicinity, as if it were for mutual as- 

 sistance and protection ; and their friendship does not appear to 

 be ever interrupted. The albatross admits of several varieties, 

 all of them of a less size than the species here described ; but 

 they have in general the same propensities, and inhabit the same 

 climates. 



In reading the relations of voyagers who have visited the 

 tropical seas, and those which extend to still more southern 

 latitudes, we observe that scene of continued warfare among 

 birds and fishes, alternately pursuing and pursued, which, as well 

 as among animals on the land, every where presents itself, and 

 which appears to agitate, and at the same time to animate, the 

 world of life. When the circumstances are fully investigated, 

 we are persuaded that the whole system of animal warfare, and 

 their contribution to each other's support, will be found to be 

 perfectly consistent with the wisdom and goodness of the Author 

 of Nature, whose counsels are far beyond the reach of superficial 

 inquiry. 



