372 



THE AL1!A1?R0SS, 



whicli is daily thrown overboard. Eight or 

 ten days before the pairing season, th^ m^e 

 AlMifo^ ^mm to tlm Imd^ fk&m m ^ot^ 

 which they scrape clear, where the intention 

 is to form the nest ; tliis being completed, 

 they fly away again to sea, and return a 

 few afterwards, in compair^ witJi the 



1^e£tt the wind falls light, the i\lbatross fishers 

 are on the alert ; it is then that all the hooks 

 and lines that can be procured on board are put 

 into requisition^ and the steward receives fre- 



some of these birds when hooked^. h'S$&C& they 

 can lie brought on board either manage to de- 

 tach themselves from tlie hook, or escape by its 

 breaking. It is laughable to see, when one is 

 Iijd^ked^ with in^t ^gj^i^sar be U lolkwed by 

 the oth^ (whQe dragged to)ugh the watea? 

 by his captnrers,) all eager to seize the bait, 

 they consider he is monopolizing; they ponnce 

 down upon it, and look surprised to find them- 

 ^lyes quietly perchfed m tibte while the 



other poor hooked bird, bait mi atU* la befer^ 

 them in rapid progress tow^H^t fceing taken 

 on board.* Numerous eager gjazers are all 



These birds, u licn hioii^Hii on boiiveU .'^cUloni utter uiiy 



