Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1889-02-08
Essex County Herald.
Y. q. BISHOP, Publisher.
ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY
ISLAND POND, VT.
TERMS. $1.50 Per Year. in Advance.
THE ALBATR
A GIGANTIC BIRD THAT SKINS
THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.
Distinguishing characteristics of
the Stormy PetreI-Utilizing the
Mariners Bird of Omen as
q Life PreServer.

1 have made certain general remarks
about the petrels which do not apply to
the stormy petrol, says a writer in the
Boston Bulletin; and suppose, unless |
specify this variety's distinguishing
characteristics, / shall risk being called
to account. 1t is the only one that flies
by strokes of the wing. 1t hardly ever
alights in the water, but treads water
on its disproportionately long legs,
walking or hopping on the water; 1t
seldom rises higher than eight or ten
feet above the surface; and oddest
thing of all, have known stormy petrels
alight on a ships boom-end at sea and
keep up an agreeable whistling all night.
All the petrels sleep on the water at
night q fact often denied. Off the
Cape, on very bright moonlight nights,
with the ship making good way, if yon
go to the flying boom end and watch the
water, you will see dozens of sleeping
birds pass under you, so sound asleeI
that they never rise, even when the shil
runs right into them; then they onl
swim away few yards and go to sleeI
again. The birds that appear to folloy
ship continuously for weeks-bein9 :
known by some mark, such as piece 'oi
string tied to the leg or a broken feather
probably rest on the water at night
and overtake the ship again in very
short time after daylight.
All these Southern Ocean birds can be
kept alive for any length of time in cold
weather, and with perfect comfort to
themselves, on ships deck. They re-
quire some attention.; but there should
be no dittculty about bring ng the gi-
gantic wandering albatross to Europe in
properly cooled compartment to carry
it through the tropics.
l kept an abatross for six weeks, Civ
ing it good bath every morning, and
tying its feet up in constantly wet fan
mel bags to keep the delicate membrane
of the web from injury. 1t refused to
eat at first, but / overcame its objections
by hitting it on the beak with pieces of
pork until it snapped at them, and get.
ting slice in its mouth it swallowed 1t
from mere force of habit. l killed it
when we reached the tropics and found
it the fattest albatross ever skinned.
If the wandering albatross were intro
duced into our hemisphere, it would, In
deed, be noble addition to our birds.
l can see no reason why it should not g;
its lesser congener thrives we'll enough.
There is a famous story of man
having kept himself atloat, after falling
overheard, until picked up, by seizing
hold of an albatross that came within
reach. There is nothing improbable in
this. / have been overheard with an
albatross myself, and l found the bird
quite manageable in the water. l was
one day catching Cape hens and molly.
hawks with fine twine line and light
hook made from bent needle, when O
large albatross pumped suddenly down
on my bait and was hooked before
could prevent him. The ship was barely
moving through the water, so that
was able, after long time, to keep him
on and play the big bird right up to the
stern. Now came the crisis-would my
line lift him out of the water2 / thought
it would. raised its weight gently
pulled cautiously up-another foot, and
would have been able to grasp the
neck. At that moment he gave wave
of his wings; the extra res stance broke
the twine, and down he Topped into the
water, wings extended, but making nc
effort to leave the spot. For second ol
two he lay still under me, almost within
my reach and yet free. Off went to him
seized wing in my right hand, and founC
myself havinga regular rough and tumbl
with the bird la the water. 1t never offered
to bite. was able to change hands anC
get the struggling brute by the feet will
my right hand then drawing my breas
up over his tail, grabbed the neck will
my left hand. | had a pretty hare
tussle to do this, for the bird was prett,
strong and fought from under me; bu
when l had the neck in my left hand,
let go the legs with my right, and tool
hold of the right wing close to tie body
/ had only dropped about ten yard
astern in doing this, but now the birc
swan with me on its back, and l wa
able to steer it after the ship. mad
great way, overhauled the ship, ant
swan right alongside. A ropes-ent
was thrown me, and l made the birt
fast, let it go, and saw it hauled OIL
board, swimming with the ship After
ward Invent up the ropes. end myself
having actually caught and mastered al
albatross in the water by hand, feat il
Dlrd pursuit 10 De PROUD OF as an ornltho
'ogist or sailor.
/ have in calm weather, when bird
have been sitting on the water near
often gone overheard and dIved swim
ming under the BIRDS tired TO come u
from beneath and seize them by th
feet, but never succeeded. They alway
see you, and swim away faster than yo
can follow; the feet and under sides G
them look quite near from below, bu
the keen sighted birds always keep jus
out of reach.