•J III: AUBATllOS^i. 



4? 



out imy apparent iiiiiscular cxfrtioii. flow tlini, 

 it nijiv Ik' [iskt'd, do lln'sc hinls cxiTiiti' such 

 nun eiuents { The whole surface of tlic body hi 

 this, as well as, I beHeve, most, if not all, the 



capable of a \ uliiiitary inflation or diminution, by 

 inosiiis of a bcautii'ul iiiiiscidar ;vit]i:ir;itiis. By 

 tliis power, the birds can raise or depress them- 

 selves at "(vill, aud the tail, and gi'eat length 

 of the living, &imUB U ste^- in -any 



direction. Indt^d^ wMimt »smne pro\ ision of 

 this kind, to save muscular exertion, it would 

 be iui possible for these birds to undergo such 

 long lliglits without repose, as they have been 

 known to dd ; fer i&m^les $:pp^^tg4wng to 

 the organs of flight, although large in l3jese 

 birds, are <ni(h'utlv iuaderjuate in power to the 

 long distances they have been known to Hy, 

 and the iunnense length of time tliey remain on 



th* witig, mthidtot seawgefy a m^M^tV ces^ 

 tion. 



When several species of the albatross, as well 

 as petrels and other oceanic furds, are about the 

 ship at the same time, no combats liave been seen 

 to take place between fhem ; bnit on 1^ desiih of 

 one, the oth^ soon fall upon and devour it. 

 Allien r>ne of tliis tribe of liirds is captured and 

 brought upon the deck, it appears to be a very 



