CHAPTER X. 
THE ALBATROSS 
(Diomedea exsidans). 
“ High on tlie cliffs, down on the shelly reef, 
Or gliding like a silver-shaded cloud 
Through the blue heaven, the mighty Albatross 
Inhaled the breezes, sought his humble food, 
Or, where his kindred like a flock reposed, 
. Without a shepherd, on the grassy downs, 
Smoothed his white fleece, and slumbered in their midst.” 
Montgomery. 
According to the usual notion a long sea-voyage is a 
tedious business, and yet the naturalist who has been 
for months at sea will testify to the contrary. Hundreds 
of objects are to be seen which render the voyage, to 
him, neither unpleasant nor unprofitable, and he is sure, 
at some future day, to look back upon the same with 
pleasure and gratitude. Naturalists are uniformly agreed 
that, of all the untold riches which the ocean affords, the 
winged children of the billows are the most interesting. 
Long after the screaming Sea Gull has abandoned the 
ship there always remain other birds which faithfully 
follow. They accompany the ship for weeks and months 
together, at times close at hand, at others, circling about, 
miles away. 
The Albatross ranks first amongst these birds. It is a 
powerful, gull-like, long-winged bird,—-a gigantic Storm 
