390 Capt. Taylor on Birds observed on the North Atlantic. 



Indeed the fog-trumpet was sounding most of the time after we 

 left New York. Of course, under these circumstances, when it 

 is with difficulty that one can see the length of the ship, orni- 

 thological observations become very limited. The air had been 

 getting colder daily, and the passengers were all putting on 

 warm clothes. 



On the 19th we passed Cape Race at 4 a.m. Dense fog and 

 unpleasantly cold. Nothing but experience could have made 

 me believe, on leaving New York, where the heat was more 

 than tropical, that so short a time would produce so great 

 a change. At 11 a.m. the thermometer on deck suddenly 

 fell to 37°, no doubt owing to the proximity of ice. Night 

 very thick. 



20th, about 9 a.m., we passed within two miles to the south 

 of a large iceberg. Every one rushed on deck to see it ; but 

 the atmosphere was thick and hazy, with cold rain falling, so 

 that it did not appear to advantage. It was very symmetrical, 

 with high peaks or pinnacles, and of a dead white — in which 

 I was disappointed, for I had expected to see it more of a 

 bluish tint; but this might have been owing to the absence of 

 sunshine. It stood high out of the water, with sides perpendi- 

 cular as a wall. There were numerous caverns and recesses, and 

 a wide split or rent, which apparently would soon open and a large 

 portion become detached. It was a fine sight, and on a sunny 

 day would have been magnificent. We probably passed others 

 during the night, but, owing to the thick fog, they were not seen. 



21st. The sea was smooth. I saw a large flock of Shear- 

 waters, P. major, and occasionally small trips of them during 

 the day. Hitherto I had only seen a few occasionally, and now 

 and then some Fulmars ; but the Stormy Petrels were more 

 abundant than they were on the voyage out, generally follow- 

 ing in the wake of the ship. 



On the 33rd, when we were about 350 miles from the Irish 

 coast, a pair of Curlews passed the ship, bound to the eastward. 

 When I first noticed them they were at some distance, and I 

 saw them through a glass. They then flew near the ship, as if 

 to reconnoitre, and went rapidly ahead, flying just above the 

 surface of the water. 



