The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-04-07
ALBArRoss CAKE WALK.
Numbers and Co Through
Amuainu Dancrs.

I.aysan. an island In the Pacific
ocean. between the Hawaiian group
ana Japan, Is noted among ornitholo-
gists as the breeding place Of an inn
mense colony OF sea birds
Especially Is it known as the home
of the albatross, than which no bird
stands out more vlvidly in memory.
Their laree size and striking
plumage q, once raises them to an ex-
alted place among all sea birds, a po-
sltlon similar to that which tradition
end fancy have accorded the eagle
among birds Of the land
Az the time OF The visit Of the gov
ernmont expedition 10 that remote
snot soae few months more than a
year ago, for tho purpose Of studying
sea bird life. the young OF the al
batroes colony we're about two-thlrds
crown, says an eastern exchange
The time was Earch The white
feathers of the breast and abdomen
looked like those on the adult bird
The rest Of the body was covered with
long brownish down except on the
head where Il was short
These youns birds appear to be
very stupid. and their spare time is
spent IN Fazlng almlessly around
They do not appear to be afraid OF
man. but II their ecverle Is disturbed
By close approach, or attempt TO han
de thoy quietly wax into apparent
eare, lean forward and snap their
beaks vielously.
Sometimes they will make a charge,
hut they are always amenable TO tact
and persuasion.
Frequently when these youngsters
maze n porientous rush to scare away
an intruder they stumble and fall for
ward Il seems that nature never In
tended that an albaiross' head should
ei lower lown than its stomach. for
ehen Il so happens that bird falls
1rward MP comes lie last banquet, and
hon this hanpena the young bird
l3ors deiested and desperately hungry
The old birds De not mind the pres
eare ~ men at nlI II Is only when
suddenly startled that they display
erper by suarrns their bills. but
they are easily calmcd. and with men
mingllng aIone thcm they will go
about their houaehold duties and
amusements without noticing the
strangers they VIII NOT, however. al
low themselves 70 b handlea
The old birds have an innate OBJ
lection 70 idlenes7 and consequently
eldom stard aronnd doing nothing
Much Of their Tins is spont In q curl
oul Performance
Z resemble cake walk The ornl.
biologist who made the study for the
United States ash commission thus de-
scribcs the dance of the birds:
Two albatroascs approach each
other bowlne profoundly and stepping
rather heavily They circle around
each other noddlng solemnly all the
time Next they fence a little. cross
ing bills. and whetilng them together.
peeking meanwhile and dropping stiG
little bows Suddenly one lifts its
closed wing and nlbblcs az the feath-
ers underneath or rarely. If In a hurry
merely turns ifs head and tucls rs
bill under rs wing
"The other bird during this short
Performance assumes q statuesque
noae and either looks mechanically
from side 70 side or snaps lts bin
loudly n few times Then the frs
bird h0we once and polntino 1s heaa
and heaF etrairhi inward rises 90 ltsI
aer prfs ont ~ breast and ufiers q
ar0lonred easai eroan the other bird
snapninE its bin loudly and rapidly af
he eamc time
"sometlmea hoih birfs raise lhe'
heads IN the alr and either ona OF
both uster the indcs- -ribable and RI.
aieulonsly bovine ~roan when ihcv
have finished. they bcriu bow.ne at
each other af-a.n. almost always rapid.
IS and alternately and presently re-
peat the performance the birds ~.
gersing their role IN the game. or not
There Is no hard and fast order 10
these antics. which The seamen e the
Alhair0ss rather aptly called cake.
wall but many variations occur
The majority Of cases. however. follow
the sequence ! have indicated. some
times three engage In the play. one
dividing rs attention between two
They are always most polite. never
losing their temper or offering any
violence. Tho whole affair pariabes
Of the nature ~ a snappy drill ard II
rysaro m frsa rrrseb,raa.t .