198 Scientific Intelligence — Meteorology. 



fine bright evening, in a tropical climate, has listened to the merry 

 buzz of thousands of winged insects which immediately succeeds the 

 setting of the sun. And here we cannot fail to notice the manner in 

 which the great Author of Nature has varied His dispensations. In 

 the burning region of the torrid zone, the descent of the sun calls 

 into action myriads of little beings which could not exist under the 

 fierce glare of his meridian ray ; whereas here, on the contrary, it is 

 the signal for universal repose. 



This period of the day had no sooner arrived in Magdalena Bay, 

 than there was a stillness which bordered on the sublime, — a still- 

 ness which was interrupted only by the bursting of an iceberg, or 

 the report of some fragment of rock loosened from its hold. These 

 sounds, indeed, which came looming over the placid surfjice of the 

 bay, could hardly be considered interruptions to the general silence ; 

 . for, speedily dying away in the distance, they left behind a stillness 

 even more profound than before. 



In the day-time the presence of our expedition was not disregard- 

 ed. The birds shunned us in their flight, and every noise which was 

 occasionally made, sounding strange to the place, sent to a greater 

 distance the sea-gulls that were fishing among the rocks, and kept 

 on the alert the whole herds of animals, many of which would other- 

 wise have been lost in sleep ; causing them to raise their heads when 

 anything fell upon our deck, and to cast a searching look all over the 

 bay, as if to inquire whence so unusual a disturbance proceeded. These 

 little alarms, which would have passed unheeded in situations fre- 

 quented by man, proved, more than any other incident, how great a 

 stranger he was in these regions ; a feeling which, I must confess, 

 carried with it an agreeable sensation, arising, no doubt, from the 

 conviction that we were treading a ground which had been but rarely 

 visited before. 



When we first rowed into this bay, it was in quiet possession of 

 herds of walruses, who were so unaccustomed to the sight of a boat, 

 that they assembled about her, apparently highly incensed at the in- 

 trusion, and swam towards her as though they would have torn the 

 planks asunder with their tusks. The wounds that were inflicted 

 only served to increase their rage ; and I frankly admit, that, when 

 I considered how many miles we were from our vessel, and what 

 might be the result of this onset, I wished we had the support of a 

 second boat. We continued, however, to keep them off with our 

 fire-arms, and fortunately came oflP without any accident. When we 

 afterwards came to anchor, we went better provided, and succeeded 



