The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-25
Wondering Albatros.

This fine bird is possessed of wondrous
powers Of wing, sailing along for days to-
gether without requiring rest, and hardly
ever Tapping its wings, merely swaying
itself easily from side to side with extended
piHions. Sometimes the bird does bend
the last joint, but apparently merely for
the purpose of checking its progress, like a
ship backing her topsails. 1t is found in
the southern seas, and is very familiar to
all those who have veyaged through that
portion of the ocean. Like the petrol, it
follows the ships for the sake Of obtaining
food, and SO voracious is the bird that it
has been observed to dash at a piece of
blubber weighing between three and four
pounds, and gulp it down entire. After
this dainty mersel, the bird was not able
to rise from the water, but yet swan Wig
orously after another piece of blubber on
hook, snapped at it, and was only saved
from capture by the hook breaking in its
mouth.
Angling for albatros is quite favorite,
though rather cruel amusement, and the
bird often gives good sport, sometimes ris-
ing into the air and being drawn down on
deck like a boys kite, but gene rally hang
ing back with all its might and resisting
the pull of the line by means of its wings
squared in the water. 1t is ne easy matter
to haul in an albatros under such circum-
stances, and the bird often escapes by the
hook tearing out or the line breaking
Nothing, however, teaches it wisdom, for
in few minutes it is quite ready to take
the bait again. Even those who have been
captured, marked by ribbon tied round
their necks and set at liberty, will follow
the vessel as soon as they recover them
selves.
When an albatros is hooked, the others
become very angry, thinking their COM
panion is monopolizing the tempting food.
Down they sweep accordingly, pounce on
the spot, and when settled on the water are
very much astenished to see their COM
panion towed away and themselves left sit
ting on the waves with nothing to eat
Should one of these birds be shot, the re-
mainder pounce upon it at once and entomb
their late companion in their rapacious
maws. These birds may under some cir
cumstances be dangerous to human beings,
as they have been observed to swoop upon
the head of man who had fallen over
board; and their long powerful beaks are
fearful weapons when urged by those huge
piniens.
The albatres makes its home on the lofty
precipices of Tristan d'Acumha, the
Crozettes, the Marion Islands, and other
similar localities. Mr.. Earl, who visited
their nesting places, writes in forcible Ian
guage of the strange weird-like scene: GA
death-like stiffness prevailed in these high
regions and to my ear our voices had a
strange unnatural echo, and fancied our
forms appeared gigantic, whilst the air
was piercingly cold. The prospect was
altogether sublime, and filled the mind
with awe. The huge albatros here ap-
peared to dread no interloper or enemy,
for their young was on the ground COM
pletely uncovered and the old ones were
stalking round them. They lay but one
egg on the ground, where they make a
kind Of nest by scraping the earth around
it; the young is entirely white, and covered