momentum of a body moving in a horizontal plane in the 
air (in which there is so little friction) cannot be great, and 
this force is all that is wanted. The movement of the neck 
and body of the condor, we must suppose, is sufficient for 
this. However this may be, it is truly wonderful and 
beautiful to see so great a bird, hour after hour, without 
apparent exertion, wheeling and gliding over mountain 
and river. 
Those who ‘‘ go down to the sea in ships’”’ have to face 
¢ 
many perils, but the “ wonders of the great deep”’ are for 
them a lure. One of these is to watch the marvellous “ sail- 
ing” flights of the wandering albatross. His wings have, 
when expanded, a peculiarly “ribbon-like” form, and 
measure from tip to tip, over eleven feet—thus exceeding 
that of the condor, which, however, is the heavier bird of 
the two. The “ ribbon-like form of the wings is due to the 
extreme shortness of the flight-quills—the primaries and 
secondaries, and the great length of the arm and forearm. 
And it may be to these structural peculiarities that the 
“sailing” flight just alluded to is due. Resembling soaring 
in many of its aspects, yet it differs materially in that it is 
performed low down, not at immense heights. The most 
graphic description of these movements is surely that of Mr. 
Froude: ‘“ The albatross,’ he tells us, ‘‘ wheels in circles 
round and round, and for ever round the ship—now far 
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