THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 823 - 
until its adhesion is very strong, when, rather than 
quit its prey, it permits itself to be dragged from 
its retreat to the surface of the water, and cap- 
tured.* 
There are certain species of oceanic birds which 
it is difficult to identify with any particular region, 
as they are true cosmopolites, The Tropic-birds, 
Albatrosses, Terns, Petrels, and Boobies, are of this 
extended character, following and attending the 
voyager for many thousands of miles, and even from 
one ocean into another. Yet there are certain, 
though somewhat indefinite, limits to their range; 
limits governed, however, by climate, rather than by 
physical boundaries. Thus the Dusky Albatross 
(Diomedea fuliginosa) *was observed by Captain 
Beechy to be numerous in the Atlantic from the 
Rio de la Plata to the latitude of 51° south; when 
it suddenly disappeared; but after rounding Cape 
Horn, the species again occurred at the very same 
latitude of 51°, and continued numerous all up the 
coast of Chili. 
The Tropic-birds (Phaeton) in like manner, as 
their name imports, chiefly frequent the Ocean 
within the tropics; and according to the statements of 
all voyagers, are very rarely seen beyond the parallel 
of 35°. Ina voyage to Newfoundland, however, in 
1827, I frequently saw the Tropic-bird, though our 
latitude during the whole voyage was not so low 
as 40°. Elevated in the air, far above the mast- 
head, the long projecting tail-feathers, looking like 
a single slender shaft, while it turns its head to 
* Ellis. 
