93 WANDERING ALBATB08S. 



contain the whole at once, part of the tail end will often remain out 

 of the mouth; and they become so stupified with their enormous meal, 

 as to allow the natives to knock them on the head without offering 

 any resistance. 



"They are often caught with a hook baited with fish, but not for 

 the sake of their flesh, which is hard and unsavoury, but on account 

 of the intestines, which the Kamtschadales use as a bladder to float 

 the buoys of their fishing-nets. Of the bones they also make tobacco- 

 pipes, needle-cases, and other sniall implements. When caught, however, 

 they defend themselves stoutly with the bill, and utter a harsh and 

 disgusting cry. Early in August they quit these inhospitable climes 

 for the more congenial regions of the south, into which they penetrate 

 sometimes as low as the latitude of 67°." 



In the "Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australia," by Dr. Bennett, 

 p. 70, et seq., there is a very interesting account of the different 

 species of Albatross which frequent the Australasian seas, especially of 

 the one now under notice, from which I will make some extracts. 



"The large species of Albatross varies in plumage more from age 

 than sexual distinction. In some the wings above are of a dark 

 brownish black, with the back most delicately pencilled, and abdomen 

 white; others have the rest of the plumage dark brown, the head 

 and abdomen white. In the movements of this bird there is no 

 laborious effort, but energy and vigour combined with grace is 

 displayed in all its actions. With what elegance it sails along, 

 cleaving the air obliquely, inclining from one side to the other, 

 descending and skimming close to the rolling waves, its huge pinions 

 appearing almost to touch the water! It then soars aloft with equal 

 boldness and facility of action, as if using the aid of the wings as 

 a sail. So rapid are its movements that, having been seen near 

 the ship, before a few seconds having elapsed it has passed far 

 away, still ascending and descending towards the surface of the 

 water, seeking for food, and ranging over an immense space in a 

 very short period of time. Sometimes they may be seen floating upon 

 the water engaged in cleaning their feathers, and thus imparting an 

 additional gloss to their plumage." — (Page 79.) 



Further on Dr. Bennett illustrates by the following diagram the 

 remarkable power which this bird has of flying within two points of 

 the wind, and of tacking like a ship. "The diagram forms the segment 

 of a circle. N is the direction from which the wind is supposed to 

 be blowing; C is a shi]) sailing within six points of the wind; B is 

 the course of a cutter which can sail * close hauled' to within four 

 points and a half of the wind; A is the course of the Albatross, which 



