To follow in the wake of some passing ship, probably because the agitation of the waves brings to the surface the small fry of marine animals which are their principal food, appears to delight them. They also pounce upon anything that falls overboard, even though it should be a man. On one occasion a sailor fell into the sea from a French vessel, and could not be immediately rescued because there was no boat in a fit state to be lowered. Before such could take place, a flock of Albatrosses which followed in the ship's wake pounced upon the unfortunate man, and commenced to peck his head and arms. Being unable to buffet both with the sea and the enemies which surrounded him, the man perished under the very eyes of his comrades. The Albatrosses and Petrels may be said to be the Vultures of the ocean. They may also be said to be its scavengers, for they cleanse the sea of all the putrefied animal substances which float on its surface. At the breeding season, which varies according to the hemisphere inhabited by them, the Albatrosses arrive at their favourite haunts, generally in an exhausted state; but, however thin they may be, they soon grow fat upon the abundant supplies of food which they find in the vicinity. In the end of September, to build their nests, they go in immense numbers to the island of Tristan d'Acunha, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Their nests, which are about three feet in height, are formed of mud. Their flesh is very hard, and can only be rendered eatable by laying it in salt for a long time, and afterwards boiling it, flavouring it with some piquant sauce. Nevertheless sailors, as well as the inhabitants of the desolate southern regions, use it, but only in the absence of better food. The most remarkable species are--the Common Albatross (_Diomedea exulans_), which frequents the seas washing the south of Africa; the Black-browed Albatross (_D. melanophrys_), which also inhabits the seas round the Cape of Good Hope; the Brown Albatross (_D. fuliginosa_); the Yellow and Black-beaked Albatross (_D. chlororinches_), which, like the preceding species, inhabits the seas of the South Pole.[31] [31] Captain Cook mentions a variety frequently captured by the inhabitants of Kamtschatka and the Kurile Islands. CHAPTER IV. GRALLATORES, OR WADING BIRDS.