BLACK-FOOTED MOLLYMAWK. 
up. When sailing against the wand they often gradually rise, but they are 
likewise perfectly capable of descending, and when going swiftly with the 
wind they not infrequently, in fact usually, make a long swoop downward and 
skim oyer the water, rising a little as they turn to come to windward. The 
position of the wings in the two cases seems to be constant. In the first case 
they catch more wind, and the fact that the birds generally rise a little shows 
that the wings act on the same principle as a kite. On the other hand, when 
sailing with the breeze, the position is such as gives less resistance to the wind. 
“It was a constant source of delight to watch the graceful evolutions of 
this Albatross, as it followed our ship day after day, rising and fa llin g at will 
and sailing straight with the wind on rigid wings. The large webbed feet were 
stretched out beyond the tail, and, with webs extended, served as a rudder in 
turning. When alighting on the water the feet were spread wide apart, the 
tail was spread and depressed and the wings were held upwards as it dropped 
gently down on to the crest of a wave; it deliberately folded its long wings 
without wetting them. After alighting, it often drifted far astern before rising 
again. This it could easily do in rough weather by slowly unfolding its wings 
and launching into the air off the crest of a wave, but in cabn weather it was 
necessary for it to run along the surface to gain a little headway. If the wind 
was blowing strongly it could easily catch up with the ship without flapping 
its wings. It sits very high on the water and swims slowly. 
“ Professor Dill (1912) says that the notes uttered during the nuptial dance 
are softer than those of the Laysan Albatross ( immutabilis) and ‘ with a sound 
like the stroke of a bell under water or deep within the bird’s stomach.’ They 
often give a whirring groan while quarrelling over their food, and a similar 
note is sometimes heard on the wing, though they are usually silent. 
“ The Black-footed Albatross is usually sociable and gentle with its neigh¬ 
bours on its breeding-grounds, where it is more or less intimately associated 
with other Albatrosses, Boobies, Shearwaters and Terns. It is on particu¬ 
larly intimate terms with the Laysan Albatross, indulging in the dance with 
it, but it has a bad habit of abusing its neighbours’ yoimg, and Doctor Fisher 
(1906) says that ‘the process sometimes finishes the victim, for young which 
appear to have been misused are frequently seen lying around dead.’ 
“ Winter. After the prolonged duties of reproduction are over the birds 
scatter about for a few months of vacation. Breeding birds may be found on 
Laysan Island from November to August, but undoubtedly some individuals 
are earlier breeders than others, and I doubt if the breeding-season for each 
pair of birds is extended over any such long period as ten months ; probably 
it is not much over six months. Certainly, adults are seen at sea, hundreds of 
miles from their breeding-grounds, during at least six months of the year, 
from May to October.” 
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