The New Student's Reference Work/Albatross

Al'batross, a long-winged ocean bird, occurring in tropical and southern seas. It almost never goes ashore, save in the breeding season, then seeks lonely cliff or rocky slope. The single egg is usually hatched in the bare earth. The albatross is famous in literature, as in Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, and also in accounts of voyages. The birds follow vessels for many days, being almost continuously on the wing, though, in calm weather, they are sometimes seen resting on the surface of the water. Many naturalists believe that their powers of flight have been overestimated, and that most of the birds sleep on the water at night and join the ship again after an interval of rest. A few birds may be seen flying astern at night, but a less number than in the daytime. They feed on refuse that is thrown overboard, not diving for their food but eating what they find on the surface of the water. Their cry is between that of a raven and a sheep. The wandering albatross or Cape Sheep is the largest water-bird in existence, sometimes measuring 14 feet in expanse of the wings. Its general color is white, with wavy lines of black, and its hand feathers are black. The bill is pinkish white and the legs a light flesh color. The coat of feathers is very heavy, serving as protection against water and long continued cold. Their flight is described as a beautiful sailing motion.