50 ALBATROSS. 



flesh that they are valued, it being hard and unsavoury,* but on 

 account of the intestines, particular parts of which they blow up 

 like bladders, and use as floats to buoy up their nets in fishing : of 

 the bones are formed many useful things.t The breeding places, if 

 at all in the northern atmosphere, are not ascertained ; but we are 

 certain of their multiplying in the southern, asPatagonia,J and Falk- 

 land Islands. § To the last they come about the end of September, 

 or beginning of October, among other birds, in great abundance. |j 

 The nests are made on the ground with earth,^[ of a round shape, a 

 foot in height, and indented at top ; the egg is larger than that 

 of a Goose, white, marked with dull spots at the large end, and is 

 thought to be good food, the white never growing hard with boiling. 

 While the female is sitting, the male is constantly on the wing, to 

 supply her with food ; and during this period they are so tame as to 

 suffer themselves to be shoved from the nest, while the eggs are taken 

 from them ; but at other times, when caught, they will defend them- 

 selves stoutly with the bill; and not only in this case, but in general, 

 the cry is harsh and disagreeable, not unlike the braying of an ass. 

 The chief destruction of the eggs is from the Hawk,** which darts 

 on the nest, the moment the female leaves it, and flies away with the 

 egg. The Albatross is also greatly persecuted while on the wing, 

 by the Skua Gull, which attacks it on all sides, and particularly 

 endeavours to get beneath, which is only prevented by the former 



* Yet they were eaten by our voyagers. As soon as caught they were skinned, and 

 soaked in salt water till next morning, then parboiled, and the liquor being thrown away, 

 stewed in fresh water till tender ; and being served up with savoury sauce, they were much 

 commended. — Hawkesw. Voy. i. 84. 



f The New Zealand women wear pieces of the down in the holes of their ears, hy way 

 of ornament. — Forst. Voy. i. 841. Id. Obs. 310. Hawkesw. Voy. iii. 66. 



X Arct. Zool. % Clayton. || A part of New Zealand called Albatross 



Point, from this circumstance. — Parkins. Voy. 113. 



•([ With sedges in form of a haycock, three feet in height. — Arct. Zool. 



** Of two sorts. — Penrose. One of them the New Zealand Eagle, Vol. i. p. 160. 

 pi. ix. 



