16 CEOSSING THE LINE. 



the performance of the usual ceremonies on '^ cross- 

 ing* the Hne/' a custom now happily falling- into 

 desuetude — I allude to it merely for the purpose of 

 mentioning- its unfortunate consequences in the pre- 

 sent instance ) for^ although the whole proceeding- 

 was conducted with the greatest g'ood humour^ 

 we had soon afterwards to lament the occurrence of 

 a fatal case of pleuris3^_, besides another scarcely less 

 severe, believed by the medical officers to have been 

 induced by forcible and continued submersion in 

 what is technically called '' the pond/' one part of 

 the performance which novices are obliged to sub- 

 mit to durino' these marine Saturnalia. 



The most interesting- occurrence in natural history 

 during the passage^ in addition to the usual accom- 

 paniments of flying iish^ dolphins^ physalioe and 

 velelloe, was our findino- in the neio-hbourhood of 

 the equator^ considerable numbers of a rare British 

 bird^ TJialassidroma Leacldi^ a species of storm- 

 petrel^ not before known to extend its range to the 

 tropics; it was distributed between the tropic of 

 Cancer and lat. 5° S. 



As we approached the South American coast^ the 

 rates of several of our seventeen chronometers (fif- 

 teen Government and two private ones) were found 

 to have strano-ely altered, thus reducino* the value 

 of our meridian distance between Madeira and 

 Rio ; this effect was ascribed to the firing of shotted 

 guns when exercising at general quarters^ a practice 

 which in consequence was not afterwards repeated. 



