1 6 Voyage of the Novara. 



of the island of Ustica. Sea-gulls {Tholassidroma pelagicd) 

 enlivened the scene, as they, from time to time, flew after the 

 garbage thrown from the ship, or sought for sea-nettles and 

 other small inhabitants of the sea's surface. These birds much 

 resemble our land swallows, and their movements are so grace- 

 ful, that one cannot but admire them, especially when they 

 lightly touch the agitated water with their little webbed feet, 

 and directly, as if repelled, withdraw. The muscular power 

 of these feathered creatures is truly wonderful ; they follow 

 the ship for entire days continually on the wing, ever on the 

 watch to snatch at the little food which the sea seems but 

 scantily to supply to them. 



Whilst we were passing down the Mediterranean, a great 



