BuLLER. — Observations on an Ocean Voyage. 197 



altogether, whilst Adamastor cinermts became more nume- 

 rous. At 8 p.m., there being no moon, but a fair amount of 

 starlight, an aurora australis illumined the western heavens. 

 The phenomenon commenced with the appearance of two 

 comet-like expansions of light, and then changed to a series 

 of huge luminous rays of irregular size, arranged somewhat in 

 fan fashion, and resting on a bank of clouds. The rays were 

 not persistent, but seemed to change their position and their 

 intensity every few minutes, and there was an entire absence 

 of tint or colour. At the end of half an hour the appearance 

 gradually faded away, and soon afterwards the moon rose. 



26th February. — Saw yesterday, for the first time during 

 the voyage, the young of Diomedea exulans, in slaty 

 plumage with white face. Surprise has often been expressed 

 at the relative fewness of the dark-coloured Albatroses as 

 compared with the white-plum aged ones. But the explana- 

 tion is a very simple one. There are two closely-allied species 

 of Wandering Albatros (D. exulans and D. regia), one of 

 which is white at all ages. Supposing, therefore, that a pair 

 of each has one young one, the proportion of white birds to 

 dark in the two families will be as five to one — that is to say, 

 two adult D. exulans, two adult and one young D. regia (all 

 of these white), to the one young D. exulans in dark plumage. 

 In addition to the four species of Albatros, we have to-day 

 Majaqueiis parkinsoni, but no Prion turtur. We have now 

 the "brave west wind" right aft, with the sea mountains- 

 high, and a very rough sea does not suit the Dove Petrel. The 

 manner in which numbers are cast ashore on the strand after 

 every heavy gale is sufficient proof of this. At noon to-day — 

 three hundred miles from land^ — a Skua (Lestris antarcticus) 

 passed twice round the ship, and returned later in the day to 

 complete the inspection, flying high, and in a very hawk- 

 . like manner. Adamastor cinereiis in great numbers to-day. 

 Their flight is an easy one, alternately soaring and skimming, 

 with very rapid evolutions, and they seem rarely to descend 

 to the water to pick up food. In calm weather they look very 

 pretty as they wheel about simultaneously in a large flock, 

 their white underparts gleaming in the sunshine. Among the 

 Sooty Albatroses following the ship one exhibited a broad 

 white patch on the nape. 



1st March. — Same birds as yesterday. The steamer having 

 stopped for twenty minutes, I observed that in calm water 

 Adamastor cinereus dived for its food, first settling down on 

 the surface, and then diving for a moment quite out of sight. 

 About 11 p.m. the aurora australis was again announced, and 

 the passengers left their cabins and crowded on deck to ob- 

 serve this strange phenomenon. It was certainly very mag- 

 nificent. At first a luminous arch with a broken or irregular 



