206 cassell's book of birds. 



"The powers of flight of the Wandering Albatross," says Gould, "are much greater than 

 those of any other bird that has come under my observation. Although during calm or moderate 

 weather it sometimes rests on the surface of the water, it is almost constantly on the wing, and is 

 equally at ease while passing over the glassy surface during the stillest calm, or flying with meteor-like 

 swiftness before the most furious gale." Although a vessel running before the wind frequently sails 

 more than 200 miles in twenty-four hour;, and that for days together, still the Albatross has not the 

 slightest difficulty in keeping up with the ship, but also performs circles of many miles in extent, 

 return'ng from these excursions to the wake of the vessel in order to obtain any substances thrown 

 overboard. 



"It is pleasing," writes Bennett, "to observe this superb bird sailing in the air in graceful and 

 elegant movements, seemingly excited by some invisible power, for there is rarely any movement 

 of the wings seen after the first and frequent impulses given when the creature elevates itself in the 

 air ; rising and falling without any muscular exertion of its own, and then descending, sweeps the air 

 close to the stern of the ship with an independence of manner as if he were monarch of all he 

 surveyed. It is from the very little muscular exertion used by these birds that they are capable 

 of sustaining such long flights without repose. When seizing an object floating on the water, they 

 gradually descend with expanded or upraised wings, or sometimes alight and float like a Duck on the 

 water while devouring their food ; then elevating themselves, they skim the ocean with expanded 

 wings, giving frequent impulses, as the great length of their wings prevents their rising with facility 

 from a level surface, as they run along for some distance until they again soar in mid-air, and 

 recommence their erratic flights." Like other species of the genus, this Albatross is nocturnal as well 

 as diurnal in its habits; no bird takes so little repose; indeed, it appears to be constantly on the wing, 

 scanning the surface of the ocean for the molluscs, medusse, and other marine animals that constitute 

 its food. The Wandering Albatross breeds in the rocky islands of the Southern Ocean during the 

 months of November and December. The grass-covered declivities of the hills, above thickets of 

 wood, are the spots usually selected for its nest, which consists of a mound of earth intermingled with 

 grass and leaves. The nest is about eighteen inches high and six feet in circumference at its base, 

 whilst the opening at the top is about twenty-seven inches in diameter. The eggs are white, and from 

 fourteen and a halt to nineteen ounces in weight. 



" The Albatross," says Dr. McCormick, " frequently sleeps with its head under its wing during 

 the period of incubation, its beautiful white head and neck above the grass betraying its situation from 

 a considerable distance. If approached, it resolutely defends its egg, and if forced off the nest, slowly 

 moves away to a short distance, but does not take wing. A fierce species of Lestris watches keenly 

 for any opportunity of seizing the eggs, and so well aware is the Albatross of its hostile intentions, that 

 he snaps his beak violently whenever he observes the Lestris overhead." The female usually lays 

 but one egg ; the young bird is entirely white, and covered with a beautiful woolly down. 



THE YELLOW-BILLED ALBATROSS. 



The Yellow-billed Albatross (Diomedea chlororhynchus) is smaller than the above species. 

 In the adult birds the plumage is principally white with brownish black rump and wings of the same 

 colour; the tail-feathers are brownish grey shafted with white; the bill is black with orange-red culmen. 



This species is abundant off the Cape of Good Hope, and also in the seas between the African 

 shores and Tasmania. Gould observed it off Capes Howe and Northumberland on the southern 

 coast of Australia, and Gilbert tells us that he saw it flying on the western coast about Rottnest 

 Island, in short, its presence may be expected throughout the temperate zones of the southern 

 hemisphere. 



