The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-24
CATCHING THE ALBATROSS.
The Absence Of Fear OF Man In This Great
and Famous Sea BIRD.
From the Cornh,H Magazine.

From the fornhW Magazine.
By the time that We had approached Tristan
da Cunha three or four species of albatross had
congregated round the ship, IA many as thirty
birds settling on the water astern in a manner
highly satisfactory for close and continuous
observation. After half a gale Of wind a lull
not infrcquently occurs, when the speed Is re-
duced to two or three knots; then the hungry
creatures literally clamor for foood, Directly
n bird intends to aliRht the legs appear strad-
ding downward in ungainly fashion u moment
when even an alhatrOss looks like an Ill balanced
goose Of unyieldy size For half a minute II
water. so to speak, until the enormous wings
become manageable. Then the bird swims
with both wings thrown back like a pair of Ia
teen sails. u very argonaut on the translucent
sea. At length the difficulty Is overcome, the
wings are packed away, and like a large gull
ii rides the waves with ease.
Sometimes II paddles TO and fro. or. again, II
dives gracefully beneath the surface after
sqnids or similar ocean dainties. Half a dozen
birds. perhaps. gravely assemble TO inspect an
UP and down idly on the waves, and inQuisitive
bills peck vigorously ~ the unsatisfactory fot-
sam, until n battle royal disperaee the family
party. The wiser ones meanwhile hover in mid
air. oraning their necks TO throw penetrating
glances from a surarior height.
With the birds settling by the Dozen. II Is easy
enough to capture specimens for examination
without causing injury or pain. Any sharply
barbed hook is altogether surerftuOus. The
albatrosses absolutely enjoy the excitement,
and the sport obtained !: not without a novel
interest. A small metal frame should he made
in the shape Of n hollow triangle. attached to
a hundred yards Of stout line. and kept afloat
by a good-sized piece OF cork. The sides OF
the metal frame are then covered with bits OF
fat pork, the hard skin OF which il securely
bound thereto, rhe bait is thrown astern. and
the line is slowly paid on, Presently q great
by curiosity to, investigate the nature OF the
floating cork. IL settles before the dainty NOR
sci Of food, numbers of birds follow suit, each
one made bold by competition. and then the
sport begins. At this moment additional line
must he given in order TO compensate for, the
progression Of the ship. thus enabling the bird
the supreme EFFORT is made. Once or twice the
attempt proves ineffect ual. but. rendered bold
by, greediness, a final grab finds the curved
angle, a. the fierce tugs on the line quickly in
dictate. Steadily the haul Is made hand over
hand. until a helpless albatross is bodily lifted
dtion A slackened line enables the bird to
escape. and + scattered wits. permitted such
an effort, sudden flight would also obtain re-
lease. The other birds invariably commence
to attack a captured comrade. a steady pull
being required. even IL the line does cut your
hands, TO save it from its, friends;
together. for otherwise the bird throws up
an oily fluid, a disagrerable habit possessed
by all the tribe. Subject TO this precaution,
new horizon of life. The large eyes gaze with
a truly pathetic confidence, expressive of any
thing but fear. II is a. strange spectacle 70
to and fro among the equally inQuisitiye hui
man beings around. True. il objects slightly
10 the process OF measurement. packing sharply
by way of protest. but a gentle box or the
ear soon induces submission as the dimensions
are rapidly noted. the albatross meanwhile
reposing affectionately in the arms Of the sec
a small one. but the wing expansion from tip to
tip Is no less than 10 feet, the extreme length
Of body is 3 feet q inches, and the formidable
6il measures sSsIa, upward OF r : iHGhes' s,b EysTy.
I'd. exulans) IL vast the wings are enormous.
the, flight y reckoned by the thousand miles,
and It's very nest may be found within the
tan da Cunha- 1900 feet above the sea level
The plumaRe varies greatly on different speci-
mems and at dlilerent seasons; Young ones, like
'isa o at the "R base OF the %an SHi ssS passing y sGns
into horn r color at the tip OF The curve Of the
mantle has beautiful pencillinGs Of black. The
wings, are brown above and white underneath.
variable character of the great albatross. The
tail is chiefly white, relieved by blotches OF
black, which, give the appearance Of a black
and toes have a peculiar. blush gray. with a
suspicion OF. q livid pinkish hue somewhat
difficult e define. The black pupils are bor-
found II feet 0 inches 10 be the average wing
measurement although a gigantic specimen
In the Sydney Museum extends II feet q
inches with a bill 9 inches long. All sailors are
familiar with the great wandering. albatross
In its varying pluma9e. While the young
and even secOnd-year birds possess every va
specimens especially round the Horn are
nearly pure white. with the black tips above
and below. Most Of the other species are
hopelessly confused by sailors under the general
term "molymauk" IA word spelled in divers
Ways. and i took me many wesks TO distin-
guish the different kinds.