. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. 294 OKDERS OF BIRDS—MID-OCEAN SWIMMERS send a bird skyward like a kite, which position it would retain until hauled down on the deck. "Fishing for 'Gonies' was a common amuse- ment on the Albatross, and specimens were often photographed alive on the decks, or marked in some way to determine if possible whether the same individuals followed the ves- sel throughout the voyage. Marked birds, however, never were seen again. The handling which they received probably disin
. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. 294 OKDERS OF BIRDS—MID-OCEAN SWIMMERS send a bird skyward like a kite, which position it would retain until hauled down on the deck. "Fishing for 'Gonies' was a common amuse- ment on the Albatross, and specimens were often photographed alive on the decks, or marked in some way to determine if possible whether the same individuals followed the ves- sel throughout the voyage. Marked birds, however, never were seen again. The handling which they received probably disinclined them to follow the vessel. "The arrival of an Albatross on deck was usually followed by the disgorging of more or less food. They could not rise from the deck, and frequently were kept on board for several days. They walk with great difficulty, and bite savagely. "Albatrosses rise easily from the sea, and when the wind is blowing it is done very quickly. In calm weather, several strokes of the wings, and a rapid movement of the feet are necessary for the bird to clear the water. No bird can exceed the Albatross in the gracefulness of its flight. Usually following in the wake, it has, however, no difficulty in passing ahead of the vessel, always on rigid, motionless wings, rising, descending, or turning without a wing move- ment that is visible to the eye. "On voyages southwestward from California, the Black-Footed Albatross did not usually follow the vessel more than two-thirds of the way to the Hawaiian Islands. A species known as Diomedea chinensis breeds in great numbers on the chain of islands extending northwest- ward from Hawaii. So far as I am aware, the breeding-place of Diomedea nigripes is not known. It probably breeds during the winter months on islands in the southern hemisphere. It is sometimes found in Bering Sea, particu- larly in the Bristol Bay region, and is met with all summer long in the Pacific south of the Aleutian Islands. During m
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