THE ALBATROSS. 69

as the gullet cannot contain the whole at
once, part of the tail will often remain
out of the mouth. They become so stupi-
fied by their enormous meals, as to allow
the natives to knock them on the head,
without offering to resist. They are often
taken by means of a hook baited with a
fish, but not for the sake of their flesh,
which is hard and unsavory, but on ac-
count of the intestines, which the Kamt-
schatdales use as a bladder to float the
buoys of their fishing-nets. Sometimes,
the Albatross will defend itself with its
stout bill, at the same time uttering a
harsh ery. But it is a cowardly bird,
and flies from the smaller gulls.