Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-05-07

The interesting particulars contained in tn
extract below, relative to the Abatross, wer,
recently furnished by Lieut.. Preble, TO the so
ciety of natural history at Portland:
"These birds are found in great number:
about Cape Horn, and at a certain season of The
year along the Pacific coast as far North as Bier
ing's Straits But favori,e resort seems to BE-
about the gloomy region of Cape Horn, where
they may be seen hour after hour, and according
to DR.. Arnoti. sometimes for days together, con.
stantly on the wing, following in the track oi
| the tempest-tossed home of the mariner, eager
! ly snatchn9 at every edible thing that may be
| thrown overheard.
"Some Of these birds are of enormous size
not unfrequently measuring from sixteen 10
nineteen feet from Zip to tip OF their wings
! They are extremely voracious, and whenever
they find abundant food will often so gorge them.
selves to be unable to fly or swim. Fish spawn,
gelatinous molnsca, and various marine animals
constitute their ordinary food-but nothing tina,
| has nutrtive qualities seems to come amiss TO
them. They scent their food great distance.
and will soon gather around the whale which
has been harpooned q thousand miles from
land.
"For their breeding spot they select spot Of
ground two or three acres in extent, opening on
the sea. From this they remove all t@e stones
and pebbles, piling them on each side, so as TO
form miniature stone fence This space Is
then plotted offinio small squares with intervcn-
ing paths intersecting each other at right angles
In each corner of the squares a penguin scoops
out nest, while the albaiross takes BY common
consent, the centre, and constructs a small
mound of grass and muscles, eight or ten inches
high, on which they make their nests, which in
diameter are about the size of q water pal! -
Their eggs, which are larger than those OF a
goose, are white, spiatched with dark spots al
the largest end. These are never exposed 10
the air after incubation commences, and when
the female wishes to leave them TO seek for food,
the male crowds her off, and in a like manner
yields possession 10 the nest 10 her when she re-
turns.
"Around the whole encampment is wide
path, in which the albatross and penIulns per-
form patrole duty day and night, but always un-
der command of an albatross. A favorite resort
for breeding is the Falkland Islands"
The albatross may be called the buzZard Of
the ocean. They are easily taken in moderate
weather by trailing hook and line, the later end
of which is kept near the surface of the water
by any kind of boat the hook being blted with
a piece of fat pork. a single answers very
well for q float. They not only extend far north
into the Pacific, but are found on the southern
borders of the Indian ocean, and occasionally
pretty far to the eastward. Notwithstanding
the immense size Of the bird, there is bnt little
flesh on the carcass, and the bones are very light
and thin. Sailors are not so scrupulOus but that
they will make fresh meal of them for the
want of something better. Having captured and
examined good many Of them, was always
struck with large quantity Of remarkable fine
and soft down upon their bodies, nearly an inch
in thickness, the prepared skins would be very
valuable, and in connection with sealing voy-
age, might, perhaps, be well worry Of atten-
ton.
There are at least two varieties if not more
one OF which is white, and the other light brown,
or brown and white iuternXcd, and form a beau
tifu combination OF colors.
As to the disposition Of their nests in conjunct-
ton with the penguins, the account appears
somewha; poetical, especially that part relating
to patrole duty. Being web footed, and Of
large size, the olbatross is not naturally fitted for
walking, no more than wild ducks and teal
Ocean birds when brought on ships deck-bo-
come sea-sck. They remain in sitting pos
ture, scarcely attempting to move, and this re-
mark applies particularly to the Glbatross and the
ape-pgeon.-Jour. Of Com.