106 Observations on the Albatross. [Feb. 



save us from much fleecing in that way. I need scarcely add, that no 

 good can result from an attempt to penetrate into the interior of China 

 by a party of foreigners, unless some one of them has at least a mode- 

 rate facility in expressing himself in conversation with the people. 



IV. — Observations on an Article in Loudon's Magazine of Natural His- 

 tory, on the subject of the Albatross. By Lieut. Thomas Hutton, 

 37^ Regt. N. I. 



At page 147 of the 32nd Number of Loudon's Magazine of Na- 

 tural History, a contributor observes : 



" Coleridge somewhere in his wild and magical 'Rime of theAntient Mariner,* 

 says of the Albatross, whom he introduces as a bird of Omen." 

 " At length did cross an Albatross, 

 Thorough the fog it came ; 

 As if it had been a Christian soul, 

 "We hail'dit in God's name. 

 "It ate the food it ne'er had eat, 

 And round and round it flew ; 

 The ice did split with a thunder-fit, 

 The helmsman steer'd us through. 

 *' And a good south-wind sprung up behind, 

 The Albatross did follow, 

 And every day for food or play, 

 Came to the mariners' hollo." 



" Had this Albatross been a sea-gull, the above might have been fact, as well 

 as fancy." 



To which another writer adds, at page 372 of the 34th Number. 



" And not less so, it may be remarked, if it be presumed, that Coleride ac- 

 tually speaks of the Albatross itself. This bird is one of the Laridse, or gull 

 tribe ; and as our correspondent Mr. Main has in person remarked to us, ' every 

 voyager round the Cape of Good Hope may have observed it to follow and fly 

 round the passing vessel from day to day.' He add«d, ' this large bird seems to 

 subsist on any animal matter which floats on the water. In their following of 

 ships they are easily caught by a strong hook baited with a bit of pork or beef.— 

 Their body appears emaciated, being small in proportion to the size of their plu- 

 mage ; as the wings, when extended, measure 9 or 10 feet from tip to tip. They 

 appear to be very stupid birds, perhaps from being broken-hearted, from the pau- 

 city of food they meet with 800 miles from the nearest land.' 



" Dr. Arnott, as quoted by Mr. Rennie, remarks, ' How powerful must be the 

 wing muscles of birds which sustain themselves in the sky for many hours ! The 

 great Albatross, with wings extended 14 feet or more, is seen in the stormy soli- 

 tudes of the southern ocean, accompanying ships for whole days, without ever 

 resting on the waves.' " 



"Mr. Main, whom apprehension of exceeding the truth always leads to speak 

 *itbin bounds, gives above the spread of the wings at 9 or 10 feet ; Dr. Arnott, 



