( 111 ) 



Aug. 8.— The morning was very cloudy, and the snu when rising looked very 

 much like a fire opal. First one half appeared, then the other, but one half being 

 visible at a time. It arose from the water, and disappeared in 3 or 4 minutes. A 

 little wind, but made slow progress. 



Aug. 0.— Calm prevailed during the morning, but in the afternoon a good 

 breeze sprang up, which lasted until 12 at midnight. Passed through the largest 

 school of porpoise since starting — a thousand might be a fair estimate. 



Aug. 10.— A little wind early in the afternoon, which gradually freshened to a 

 six-knot breeze. Saw a sperm whale at 5.15 p.m. The man at the wheel sighted 

 land — probably the northern end of Albemarle. 



Aug. 11. — Drifted around all the morning, the wind having died out during the 

 night. Albemarle was still visible. In the evening sighted Abingdon Island. 



Aug. 12.— The wind, which had continued all night, nearly died out in the 

 morning. At dawn Abingdon came into view, but the morning was misty, and it 

 did not show up plainly. The breeze freshened again a little later, and at 9.30 a.m. 



Jl»f-ff ■■:■-■■■■■ 



Abingdon Island. 



the island was plainly seen. At 12.30 the mate and one sailor took tlie skiff and 

 started to sound. They found an anchorage about 300 yards off shore. Many 

 seals, large turtles, and sharks could be seen from the vessel, together with several 

 species of birds new to us, including the gull {Larus fuliginosus), and one pelican, 

 which Harris shot with the rifle. In its pouch were found about twenty-eight small 

 fish (" sardines "). At 3.25 p.m. the anchor was drojiped, and sails furled. It then 

 being about supper time, we postixmed going to the island till next day. On a 

 small sand beach to the left of the anchorage a number of seals were playing, now 

 wandering up the beach, moving their heads from side to side at each step, and then 

 rushing into the breakers head first. In the water they swam on one side or on 

 the back eiiually well, coming up every few seconds with a puff to take breath. 

 Frequently they jumped out of the water from underneath the swells, exactly like 

 the porpoise. Their cry while playing on the beach resembled at different times 

 the bark of a dog, bleat of a calf and of a goat. Some land birds were heard, and 

 a hawk was noted sailing over the island. The side of the island visiljle from our 

 anchorage was well covered witii vegetation, bushes, etc. While sounding a shark 

 took the lead from the end of the line. There were several little sand beaches at 



