36 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. When the nights were clear, we continued our 

 — ^w observations on the comet. On the 30th the coma 

 ^25 had increased to the enormous length of 24° ; the 

 nucleus was larger and more brilliant than before ; 

 and the ray, before mentioned as forming part of 

 the coma, was more distinct, and apparently at a 

 greater angle with it than when first seen. 



The day after we quitted the coast of Chili, all 

 the birds left us ; even the pintados, which had been 

 our constant attendants for upwards of 5000 miles, 

 deserted us on this occasion. We afterwards saw 

 very little on the wing, I believe nothing, except a 

 wandering albatross, until we approached the island 

 of Sala-y-Gomez. 



In the Pacific, in particular, the navigator should 

 not be inattentive to the presence or absence of 

 birds, as they will generally be found in the vicinity 

 of islands, and especially of such as are uninhabited 

 and of coral formation. On the 14th, several tropic 

 birds, boatswains, and gannets, flew round the ship, 

 and were hailed as an omen which did not deceive 

 us, for at daylight, on the following morning, the 

 island of Sala-y-Gomez was seen from the mast- 

 head, bearing N. N.W., fifteen miles distant. 



We shortly closed with this isolated spot, and 

 found its extent much less than has been stated. 

 It is, indeed, scarcely more than a heap of rugged 

 stones, which the elements appear to have thrown 

 together, and in a gale of wind would not be distin- 

 guished amidst the spray. The rocks, except such 

 parts as have been selected for roosting places by 

 the sea-gulls, are of a dark-brown colour. Upon a 

 small flat spot there was a moss-like vegetation, 

 and near it a few logs of wood, or planks, which the 



