New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
ADVENTURES WITH ALBATROs,.
From The Boston Commercial Bulletin.

From The Boston Commercial Bulletin
I have made certain general remarks about The
petrels which do not apply 10 the stormy petrel:
and / suppose, unless specify this variety ds1in'
gushing characteristics, shall risk being called !?
the wing. It hardly ever alghts in the water egt
treads water on It's long ss gss
than eight feet above the surface; and odnea
hing Of an have known stormy preS sgas 2.
whlstng all night All the perels sleep on the water
at nlght-a fact often denied on The cape. on very
bright moonlight nights with the ship making good
way, II you go 10 the flying boom-end and watch ihs
water. you will dozens Of sleeping birds pass undv
the ship runs right into them then they Only swim
away few yards and go to sleep again me DIGS
being known by some mark, such as piece OF snihe
tied to the leg broken feather-probaoly rest on
the water at night and overtake The ship again In
All these Southern Ocean birds be kept alive
comfort to themselves on ships deck They regus our,
some attention but there should be no diihchy aoous
in properly cooled compartment to carry II hrough
the tropics. -.
Kept an albatross for six weeks; giving # GOO
bath every morning. and tying rs feet up u amy ,
wet flannel bags to keep the delicate membrane OF 2
web from injury. 1t refused TO eat at hrsl o9t )
pieces of pork until It snapped al them. and getting
Slice in its mouth It swallowed 1t from mere force %
found II the latest aibaiross I skinned
If the wandering aIbatross were INTRODUCED mo our
our birds. I no reason why Il should not De-
lesser congcner thrfveS well enough.
There is a famous story Of a man having kept MIN
self afoat after falling overheard until PICKED up
bv selling hold Of an albatros that came within reach
There is nothing improbable I'm this. have been over
board with an abatroSs myself. and found the ORA
quite manageable IN the water ! was ono day caca .
ing Capehens and mollyhawks with tine t~ine lin,
and Hight hook made from bent needle, when larse
alhatross pumped suddenly down on my hat. ana
was hooked before could prevent him. Inc snip
barely moving through the water. 80 that was
able after a long time to keep him on and play me
big bird right mp TO the stern. Now came the crisis
would my line lift him out of the water thought
up-another foot. and would have been able TO grSsp
the neck At that moment he gave a wave OF MS
wings the extra resistance broke the twlne and down
he fopped into the water, wings extended but making
Law still under me, almost within my reach and yei
free. on ] went 10 him, seized a wing In nv ngh,
hand and found myself having regular rough ana
tumble with the bird I'm the water. n never oferd
struggling brute by the feet with my right hand
then drawing my breast up over his TAI, grabo~i
tho neck with my left hand had a pretty nara
tussle 10 do this. for the bird very strong and
my left hand. let go the feet with my right and took
I'D Of the right wing close TO the body. had Oily
dropped about ten yards aStern in doing h but now
the bird with its back. and was able
To steer n after the ship made great way. over
hauled the ship and swan right alongside ropes
end was thrown and made the bird fast Jet n
60, and saw II hauled on board swimming Win ne
ship Afterward | went up the ropesend myself:
having actually caught and mastered an alhatross n
the water by hand. feat I'm bird pursuit To De proud
OF as an ornithoogst or sailor
have In calm weather. when birds have been ithng
on the near, often gone overheard and diNed
swimming under the birds, tricd 10 come up rom
beneath and them by the feet, put never sue
cceded They always see you. and swim away faster
look quite from below. but the kecnsghted BIRDS
always keep just out Of reach