in the vicinity of their breeding-places, where, upon some rocky platform
or moss-grown overhanging ledge, they construct their nests. These are
generally mere cavities, hollowed out by the pressure of their bodies,
and here, during the first days of June, they lay two eggs of a dirty
olive-green colour, spotted with brown. One of their breeding-places
visited by Graba was occupied by about fifty couples. According to Mr.
Dunn, this species has three breeding-places in the Shetland Isles--Foula,
Rona's Hill, and the Isle of Unst. In the latter place it is by no means
numerous, and is strictly preserved by the landlords on whose property it
may have settled, from a supposition that it will defend their flocks from
the attack of the Eagle. That it will attack the Eagle if he approaches
its nest is a fact that I have witnessed. I once saw a pair beat off a
large Eagle from their breeding-place on Rona's Hill.
Should a man approach the nest, the old birds at once fly into the air
screaming furiously, and sometimes boldly attack the rash intruder on
their privacy by dealing violent blows about his head and face. Sometimes,
according to Graba, bird-catchers hold knives above their caps, upon
which the birds occasionally impale themselves as they swoop violently
down and endeavour to wound the enemy's head. Both parents assist in the
work of incubation, and hatch the eggs in about four weeks. The young are
nimble, gallant little fellows, and leave the nest almost immediately
after quitting the shell. A writer in the Records of the Wernerian Society
informs us that on alarm of danger they secrete themselves with great art
behind stones, or in holes, and if captured make a most amusing show of
defence. When first hatched, the fledglings are warmly clad in greyish
brown down, and are reared upon small mollusca, worms, eggs, and similar
delicacies, disgorged from the parents' crop; at a later period they
are supplied with half-digested fish or flesh, or sometimes with young
birds. When able to provide for themselves, they are said to eat berries
of different kinds. By the end of August they have attained their full
growth, and in September are able to fly out to sea. The Common Skua is
easily tamed, and in some places, says Mr. Dunn, is a great favourite with
the fishermen, frequently accompanying their boats to the fishing-ground;
this the fishermen consider a lucky omen, and in return for its attendance
they give it the refuse of the fish which are caught, or supply it with
any useless garbage from their nets.
BUFFON'S OR THE PARASITE SKUA.
BUFFON'S or the PARASITE SKUA (_Lestris [Stercorarius] parasitica_)
is considerably smaller, and more slenderly built, than the species
last described, from which it is also distinguishable by the central
tail-feathers. These are considerably elongated and sharp-pointed. The
colour of this bird is either sooty brown, with a white throat, and a
whitish or yellowish patch upon the forehead, or the upper side is sooty
brown, the throat yellowish, the under side greyish white, and the region
of the crop grey. This variation in the colours of different specimens
seems quite independent either of age or sex. The eye is brown, beak
black, cere dark leaden grey, and the foot blue-black. The length is
eighteen to nineteen inches; breadth, thirty-nine to forty-two inches;
length of wing, twelve inches; length of tail, seven inches. The Parasite
Skua is met with in the Arctic Regions of both hemispheres. It is found
in Spitzbergen and Greenland, extending thence to the middle of the coast
of Norway; it occurs in Iceland; in the islands to the north of Scotland;
in the Faroe Islands; off the coast of Labrador; in Newfoundland; also in
Behring's Straits; and in the Sea of Ochotsk it is abundant. In England
and Ireland it is but rarely seen. During the winter it is a regular
visitant to the more southern coasts of the countries bordering on the
North Sea, and sometimes wanders inland. Except during the breeding
season, it passes its whole life on the sea. Its presence is by no means
confined to coasts and rocky reefs; it remains for weeks together far out
of sight of land.
The unpractised observer will find but little difficulty in distinguishing
the Parasite Gull, even from its nearest allies, as soon as he has
witnessed the manner of its flight. Its gait when walking is hurried, but
is not otherwise remarkable, and when swimming, with the exception of
its dark colour, it very much resembles some of the smaller Gulls. Its
flight, however, is more versatile than that of any member of the family;
frequently it skims along like a Falcon, at one time giving a few rapid
strokes with its wings, then sweeping onwards to a considerable distance,
somewhat after the manner of a Kite; suddenly, however, it seems to
shiver, or rapidly shake its wings, and precipitates itself downwards,
describing a sort of arch, mounts up again, and immediately adopts a
course made up of an alternation of larger and smaller arches joined
beneath each other. It now shoots with great rapidity downwards, then
slowly mounts again, and remains for a moment quiet, as it were exhausted;
but the next instant, as though possessed by an evil spirit, it turns, and
winds, and struggles, and flutters in an indescribable manner.
The cry of these birds somewhat resembles that of a Peacock. In their
disposition they very closely resemble the Common Skua; they are bold,
importunate, and valorous, but covetous, gluttonous, and thievish. In one
respect, however, they differ from the Skua in a striking manner--they
are remarkably social, and are at all times to be met with in little
companies. During the breeding season they assemble in still greater
numbers, but arranged in pairs, each of which builds its nest a little
removed from the others, within a small territory of its own. These birds
are as much feared by the smaller Gulls, as the Great Skuas are by the
larger ones, and yet, strange to say, Plovers, Snipes, and Oyster-catchers
may be seen building in their immediate vicinity without the slightest
indication of mistrust.
Upon several occasions we have watched the Parasite Gulls for weeks at a
time, and by so doing have ascertained that during the middle of summer
they are quite as active in the night-time as during the day. They have
often appeared to us to be busied for hours together catching insects, but
we have never found anything but the remains of fishes in their stomachs.
The birds that they principally follow for the sake of making them
disgorge any prey that they have swallowed are Gulls, Petrels, Terns, and
Guillemots. The booty, however, that they obtain in this summary manner
can scarcely form the staple of their food. They may be seen wandering
along the beach, picking up worms and remnants cast up by the waves quite
as often as they are employed in pursuing other birds. About the middle of
May the Parasite Gulls make their appearance on dry land for the purpose
of rearing their progeny. The places selected for the nests are generally
low-lying moors and high rocks; according to our own experience, they
always avoid extensive moors. Fifty or a hundred of their nests may be
sometimes counted in these settlements; each pair, however, seems to claim
the vicinity of their nest as their own ground, from which they drive
away intruders even of their own species. The nests are situated upon
the top of small hillocks of earth, and consist of simple but carefully
formed excavations. Their eggs, which are seldom laid before the middle
of June, are smooth and somewhat polished; their colour is a dingy olive,
or brownish green, speckled, streaked, and dotted with dark grey, dark
olive, or reddish brown. Naumann is of opinion that the Parasite Gulls
only lay two eggs; we, however, have repeatedly found three in the same
nest. The two sexes brood by turns, and tenderly watch over their young.
Should a man approach the nest, they at once hasten to meet the intruder;
they fly round in circles, throw themselves on the ground before him to
distract his notice, always, of course, managing to get out of the way
should he try to catch them. They show themselves on these occasions quite
experts in dissimulation, hop and flutter on the grass as if they were
wounded--in short, do everything in their power to tempt their enemy from
the locality. The early life of the young birds differs in no important
particular from that of their congeners already described.
ROSS'S ROSY GULL.
Ross's ROSY GULL (_Rhodostethia rosea_ or _Rossii_), the most beautiful
Gull with which we are acquainted, is a resident in America, where it
inhabits the far north. Upon some occasions, however, it has been known to
visit Europe, and consequently deserves notice, although we are ignorant
of any important particulars in which it differs from others of its race.
This species is distinguishable by its wedge-shaped tail, the two middle
feathers of which project nearly an inch beyond the rest; from this
circumstance it is regarded as the representative of a distinct section of
the family. Its beak is feeble, and the angular enlargement of the front
of the under jaw, so characteristic of the Gulls, scarcely perceptible.
The tarsus is moderately strong, and the four-toed foot of a medium
length. The coloration of the feathers is more delicate and beautiful than
that of any other of the race; the mantle is pearly or silvery grey; the
under neck, breast, and belly are pale rose-red; the middle of the neck
is adorned with a narrow black band, somewhat resembling a necklace of
jet. The exterior web of the first quill is black, that of all the others
white. The eyelids and throat are reddish yellow, the beak black, the foot
scarlet. The length of this bird is fourteen inches; the length of the
wing ten inches and a half; and of the tail five inches and a half. The
Rosy Gull is included among British birds, a specimen having been killed
upon a ploughed field in Yorkshire in 1847. Yarrell tells us that its
flight resembles that of its congeners, and that it did not appear at all
shy.
* * * * *
The PETRELS, or STORM-BIRDS (_Procellaridæ_), are distinguishable among
all other sea-birds, and, indeed, among all birds whatever, by the
circumstance that their nostrils are represented by horny tubes, situated
upon the upper beak.
* * * * *
The ALBATROSSES (_Diomedeæ_), although by no means the noblest among
this extensive group, seem to claim the precedence on account of their
prodigious size and imposing aspect. These birds are recognisable by their
great stature, powerful build, short thick neck, large head, and long
beak, the latter being strong, compressed at the sides, and terminating
in a formidably hooked tip. For some distance from its commencement the
culmen is slightly bowed inwards, and the cutting edges are exceedingly
sharp. The nostrils terminate in short horny tubes, that lie side by
side upon the upper aspect of the beak, and from these deep channels
are prolonged quite to its extremity. The tarsus is short, but strong,
the foot three-toed, and very broadly-webbed. The wings are very long,
but remarkably narrow, the primary quills long and strong, the first
quill being the longest; the secondary quills, on the contrary, are
remarkably short, scarcely projecting beyond the wing-covers. The tail,
which consists of twelve feathers, is short, either straight, or slightly
rounded or pointed at its extremity. The general plumage is uncommonly
rich, thick, and downy, but not striking in its coloration, which seems to
vary in the two sexes and at different ages, as well as according to the
seasons of the year.
[Illustration: THE ROSY GULL (_Rhodostethia rosea_).]
The Albatrosses claim the vast ocean of the southern hemisphere as their
habitat; both the _D. exulans_ and the _D. chlororhynchus_, it is true,
have been occasionally seen even off the coasts of Europe, but such a
circumstance can only be regarded as an accidental occurrence. They seldom
or never pass beyond the tropic of Capricorn, at least in the Atlantic,
and even then only as occasional wanderers. They appear more frequently,
however, in the northern regions of the Pacific Ocean; they are also said
to make regular visits to Behring's Straits and the Sea of Ochotsk, and
not only casually to show themselves upon those unfrequented shores, but
to reside in their vicinity during several months, only retiring beyond
the equator as the season for breeding approaches. In like manner they
are frequently met with in high antarctic latitudes, _i.e._, as we are
informed by sailors and fishermen, up to 50° or 60° south latitude; but
whether these visits are regular migrations, or merely casual excursions,
we are not as yet informed. We know, however, that they visit all seas
lying between 23° north, and 66° south latitude; that when they come into
more northern climes, as into Kamschatka and Ochotsk, they are hungry,
lank, and half-starved, but that in a few weeks, owing to the abundance
of food they there meet with, they return to their breeding-places plump
and in good condition. It is said by some observers that in the literal
meaning of the words their flight extends quite around the globe, being
generally, however, more or less restricted within the limits of a certain
zone, from which they never wander far during the whole course of the
year, and within which they likewise breed.
THE WANDERING ALBATROSS.
The WANDERING ALBATROSS (_Diomedea exulans_), called by some the Cape
Sheep, is, with the exception of its black wings, entirely pure white.
In young birds the plumage is banded and marked with various shades of
brown. The eye is dark brown, the naked eyelid pale green; the bill is
reddish white, with yellow tip; and the foot yellowish white. According
to measurements made by Bennett, this species is three feet ten inches
long, and the spread of the wings eleven feet eight inches; this latter
measurement is, however, subject to variation, some being not more that
ten feet, and others as much as fourteen feet across the wings.
[Illustration: THE WANDERING ALBATROSS (_Diomedea exulans_). ONE-FIFTH
NATURAL SIZE.]
The habitat of the Wandering Albatross is confined within no particular
limits, it is, however, most abundant between 30° and 60° south latitude,
and is equally numerous in all parts of the Southern Ocean. The wide ocean
is its natural range, and this it never leaves except for the purpose of
breeding, when it usually resorts to inaccessible rocky islands.
"The powers of flight of the Wandering Albatross," says Gould, "are much
greater than those of any other bird that has come under my observation.
Although during calm or moderate weather it sometimes rests on the surface
of the water, it is almost constantly on the wing, and is equally at
ease while passing over the glassy surface during the stillest calm, or
flying with meteor-like swiftness before the most furious gale." Although
a vessel running before the wind frequently sails more than 200 miles in
twenty-four hours, and that for days together, still the Albatross has not
the slightest difficulty in keeping up with the ship, but also performs
circles of many miles in extent, returning from these excursions to the
wake of the vessel in order to obtain any substances thrown overboard.
"It is pleasing," writes Bennett, "to observe this superb bird sailing
in the air in graceful and elegant movements, seemingly excited by some
invisible power, for there is rarely any movement of the wings seen after
the first and frequent impulses given when the creature elevates itself
in the air; rising and falling without any muscular exertion of its own,
and then descending, sweeps the air close to the stern of the ship with
an independence of manner as if he were monarch of all he surveyed. It
is from the very little muscular exertion used by these birds that they
are capable of sustaining such long flights without repose. When seizing
an object floating on the water, they gradually descend with expanded or
upraised wings, or sometimes alight and float like a Duck on the water
while devouring their food; then elevating themselves, they skim the
ocean with expanded wings, giving frequent impulses, as the great length
of their wings prevents their rising with facility from a level surface,
as they run along for some distance until they again soar in mid-air,
and recommence their erratic flights." Like other species of the genus,
this Albatross is nocturnal as well as diurnal in its habits; no bird
takes so little repose; indeed, it appears to be constantly on the wing,
scanning the surface of the ocean for the molluscs, medusæ, and other
marine animals that constitute its food. The Wandering Albatross breeds
in the rocky islands of the Southern Ocean during the months of November
and December. The grass-covered declivities of the hills, above thickets
of wood, are the spots usually selected for its nest, which consists of
a mound of earth intermingled with grass and leaves. The nest is about
eighteen inches high and six feet in circumference at its base, whilst the
opening at the top is about twenty-seven inches in diameter. The eggs are
white, and from fourteen and a half to nineteen ounces in weight.
"The Albatross," says Dr. McCormick, "frequently sleeps with its head
under its wing during the period of incubation, its beautiful white head
and neck above the grass betraying its situation from a considerable
distance. If approached, it resolutely defends its egg, and if forced off
the nest, slowly moves away to a short distance, but does not take wing. A
fierce species of _Lestris_ watches keenly for any opportunity of seizing
the eggs, and so well aware is the Albatross of its hostile intentions,
that he snaps his beak violently whenever he observes the _Lestris_
overhead." The female usually lays but one egg; the young bird is entirely
white, and covered with a beautiful woolly down.
THE YELLOW-BILLED ALBATROSS.
The YELLOW-BILLED ALBATROSS (_Diomedea chlororhynchus_) is smaller than
the above species. In the adult birds the plumage is principally white
with brownish black rump and wings of the same colour; the tail-feathers
are brownish grey shafted with white; the bill is black with orange-red
culmen.
This species is abundant off the Cape of Good Hope, and also in the seas
between the African shores and Tasmania. Gould observed it off Capes Howe
and Northumberland on the southern coast of Australia, and Gilbert tells
us that he saw it flying on the western coast about Rottnest Island, in
short, its presence may be expected throughout the temperate zones of the
southern hemisphere.
THE SOOTY OR BLACK ALBATROSS.
The SOOTY or BLACK ALBATROSS (_Diomedea_ or _Phœbetria fuliginosa_) is
principally of a dark sooty grey; the head and wings are brown. In this
species the tail is wedge-shaped.
The Sooty or Black Albatross, one of the commonest species, is universally
spread over all temperate latitudes south of the equator. According to
Latham, these birds breed on the Island of Tristan d'Acunha, and are
gregarious, many of them building their nests close to each other; in the
area of half an acre were reckoned upwards of a hundred. The nest is of
mud, raised five or six inches, and slightly depressed at the top; when
the young are more than half-grown they are covered with a whitish down;
they stand on their respective hillocks like statues, until approached
close, when they make a strange clattering with their beaks, and if
touched squirt a deluge of fetid oily fluid from the nostrils. "The Black
Albatross is common," says Layard, "along the south coast of Africa, at a
little distance from the land. It is fond of hovering over a ship's deck,
and I have obtained specimens by sending a small rifle bullet through
them, thus killing them instantly; if struck with shot, their feathers are
so dense that they seldom receive a death wound, but drift seaward and
perish miserably. I have never observed any of the other Albatrosses hover
over the deck as this bird constantly does; I have seen it almost touch a
man on the royal yard. On these occasions it seems actuated by curiosity,
and keeps turning its head from side to side, scanning everything with
its brilliant dark eye." The eggs of this species resemble those of _D.
exulans_, but are somewhat smaller, being about four inches two lines long
by two inches six lines broad.
All the birds belonging to this family are oceanic, nevertheless each
species seems to confine its occupancy within certain zones or climates.
They are less numerously met with in the torrid zone than in the more
temperate and colder regions, and are more abundant in the southern than
in the northern hemisphere. During the breeding season they resort to the
coasts, but the greater part of their life is spent upon the open sea.
They can scarcely be said to walk, but they swim with ease and buoyancy,
still they seldom alight upon the water, passing by far the greater
part of their lives upon the wing. From the deck of a ship they may be
seen pertinaciously accompanying it for whole days together, sweeping
constantly along with an unbroken equable pace, mounting gently over the
crests of the highest waves, plunging headlong into the valleys between
them, only staying their course now and then for a moment, to enable them
to pick up any stray morsel thrown from the ship, or seen floating upon
the water. They are less capable of diving than most other sea-birds,
probably from the difficulty they must encounter in submerging their soft
thick plumage. They are even more saucily obtrusive than the Albatrosses,
and will fearlessly seize upon any proffered bait, even when they have
seen their fellow caught with a hook and line. Their food, besides fishes,
consists of any animal substances that may be found floating on the waves.
Their voracity is almost insatiable; with the prospect of a feast before
them, they think nothing of danger, and will even allow themselves to be
knocked down with sticks, or caught with the hand. The Petrels breed in
the vicinity of the sea, generally upon solitary and almost inaccessible
rocks. They can hardly be said to make a nest, but lay their eggs on the
bare ground, and immediately commence the work of incubation. Their eggs
are broad in proportion to their length, coarse-shelled, and of a pure
white, without any markings. The young when hatched are covered with grey
down; they grow very slowly, but are carefully tended by their parents,
who defend them by ejecting fetid oil from their crops in the face of
the assailant. After the young are able to fly, the families distribute
themselves over the surface of the sea. They are sociable birds, and may
sometimes be seen keeping together in considerable flocks.
* * * * *
The TRUE PETRELS (_Procellariæ_) in their general appearance present a
certain resemblance to the Sea Gulls, from which, however, they are
easily distinguished by their rounder head, high forehead, and smaller
wings. The Petrels are powerfully built, short-necked, and large-headed;
their beak is shorter than the head, strong, hard, and so deeply furrowed
upon the sides that its point seems a mere appendage fastened to it,
forming at the extremity of the upper jaw a strongly-bent hook, and upon
the under jaw a peculiarly-formed angular termination. The cutting edges
of the mandibles overlap each other and are very sharp; the gape opens
backwards as far as the eye; the apertures of the nostrils are situated
in a horny pipe consisting of two tubes consolidated into one in such a
manner that the longitudinal division between them is perceptible; the
foot is moderately strong, the tarsus short and compressed laterally, the
three front toes are connected together by a well-developed swimming web,
but the hinder toe is only represented by a little rudimentary appendage.
The wings are very similar to those of Sea Gulls, but are shorter and more
pointed, the first quill being invariably longer than the rest. The tail,
which consists of twelve or fourteen feathers, is more or less rounded at
the extremity. The general plumage is rich, and thicker above than below,
indeed, on the under part it is very soft and fur-like. The two sexes
are alike in colour, and even the young differ but slightly from the old
birds, neither do their colours alter perceptibly with the seasons.
[Illustration: THE GIANT PETREL (_Procellaria_ [_Ossifragus_] _gigantea_).
ONE-SIXTH NATURAL SIZE.]
THE GIANT PETREL.