The Portland daily press., 1900-06-26
CATCHING THE ALBATROss.
The Absence of Fear OF Man In This
great and Famous Sea Bird.
(From the Cornhln Magazine)

BY the time that we had approached
Tristan da Cunha three or our species OF
albatross had copyrighted round the ship,
as many as thirty birds settling on the
water astern In manner highly satisfac-
tory for close and continuous observation.
After half gale Of wind lull not in
frequently occurs, when the speed is re-
duced to two or three knots; then the
hungry creatures literally clamor for food
Directly a bird intends to alight the legs
appear straddling downward in ungainly
fashion-a moment when even an alba
tross looks like an III balanced goose OF
unwieldy size. For half a minute 1t runs
along the surface of the waves, treading
water, so to speak, until the enormous
wings become manageable. Then the
bird swims with both wings thrown back
like pair of lateen sails, very argonaut
on the translucent sen. At length the
difficulty is overcome, the wings are
packed away, and-like large guilt
rides the waves with consummate ease.
Sometimes 1t paddles to and fro, or,
again, 1t dives gracefully beneath the
surface after squids or similar ocean dain-
ties Half dozen birds, perhaps, grave
ly assemble to inspect an empty beer
bottle thrown overheard, to bob up and
down idly on the waves, .and inquisitive
bills peck vigorously at the unsatisfac-
tory notsam, until battle royal dis
perses the family party. The wiser ones
meanwhile hover in midair, craning their
necks to throw penetrating glances from
a superior height.
With the birds settling by the dozen 1t
is easy enough TO capture specimens for
examination without causing injury or
pain. Any sharply barbed hook is alto
gether superiluous The albatrosses abso
utely enjoy the excitement, and the sport
obtained is not without novel interest.
A small metal frame should be made n
the shape of hollow triangle attache d
to hundred yards of stout line, and
kept afloat by good-sized piece Of cork.
The sides of the metal frame are then
covered with bits Of fat pork, the hard
skin of which is securely bound thereto;
the bait is thrown astsrn. and the lin e
is slowly paid out. Presently a great
albatross swoops through the air. inn
PEELED by curiosity to investigate the
nature of the floating cork. 1t settles be-
fore the dainty morsel Of food, numbers
of birds follow suit, each one made bold
by competition, and then the sport be-
gins. At this moment additional line
must be given in order to co mpensate for
the progression OF the ship, thus enabling
the bird to seize the desired food. With
a sudden rush the supreme effort is made.
I'm TON, nt IL q
tual. but rendered bold by greediness, a
final grab finds the curved bill securely
wedged inside the apex of the triangle.
as the fierce tugs on the line quickly in
dictate Steadily the haul is made hand
over hand, until helpless albatrross Is
bodily lifted on to the poop in an abso
lutely uninjured condition. \ slacke ned
line enables the bird to escape, and il
scattered wits permitted such an effort,
sudden flight would also obtain release
The other birds invariably commence to
attack captured com rade, steady pull
being required, even if the line does cut
your hands, to save it from its friends.
Once safely on deck, the mand ibles are
tied together, for otherwise the bird
throws up an oily fluid, IA disagreeable
habit possessed by all the tribe. Subject
60 this precauton, 1t may wander grave
ly around to survey the new horizon of
life. The large eyes gaze with truly
pathetic confidence, EXPIRE ssive of any
thing bat fear. 1t is "a strange spectacle
to witness the inquisitive bird solemnly
waddle to and fro among the equally In
quisitive human beings around. True,
1t objects slightly TO the process of meas
urement, pecking sharply by way of pro-
test, but gentle box on the ear soon in
ducas submission as the dimensions are
rapidly noted, the albatross meanwhile
reposing atfectionately in the arms of the
second officer. The specimen happens TO
be q small one, but the wing expansion
from tip TO tip is no less than ten feet;
the extreme length of body is three feet |
six inches; and the formid able bill meas |
ures upward Of four inches. Everything |
about the great wandering albatross %. |
exuhns) is vast-the wings are enormous |
the flight Is reckoned by the thousand |
miles, and its very nest may be found |
within the extinct crater on the adjacent |
island of Tristan da Cunha-1,0 0O feet |
above the sea level. The plumage varies |
greatly on different specimens and at diff |
ferent seasons; young ones, like our
friend under observation, having mot |
tied brown appearance. The bill has |
rosy tinge at the base of the mandibles, |
passing into horn color at the tip of the |
curve OF the culmen. The head, neck |
principally white the mantle hasibeauti- |
full pencillings of black. The wings are |
brown above and white underneath, |
tipped above and below with black an |
invariable character of the great alba |
tross. The tail is chiefly white, relieved |
by blotohes oftblack, which give the APP |
pearance of a black bar edging the white |
coverts. The legs, feet and toes have "a |
peculiar blush gray, with "a suspicion OF |
a livid pinkish hue somewhat difficult to |
define. The black pupils are bordered |
with green.
1 found II feet inches to be the aver
age wing measurement, although gigan- |
Ito specimen in the Sydney Mu scum xex- |
tends IL feet . inches with bill six |
inches long. All sailors are familiar |
with the great wandering albatross i'm its |
varying plumage. While the young and |
even second.year birds possess every varie- |
ty of brown ooloration. the real mature |
specimens-sspecially round the Horn
are nearly pure white, with the black |
tips above and below. Most of the other |