iv PEE FACE. 



may possibly be in store for him, but the majority of passengers will be found to confess 

 that they are not able to recall to memory more than a dozen occrirrences a few years 

 after their voyage has terminated. 



A gale in the dreaded Bay of Biscay, a glimpse of Ma'deira's mountains rising 

 abruptly from the blue plain of the sea, the first gorgeous sunset in the Tropics, the 

 first "school" of Flying-fish scudding away from the ship's side, a "clock calm" on 

 the Line, the first mighty Albatross soaring majestically over the poop, a Meeting 

 vision of the glorious Peak of Tristan da Cunha towering up into the cloud-wreaths, the 

 first sight of the Southern Cross, the first Whale, the first look at Austraha, — events 

 and scenes such as these will remain as the most noteworthy memories of a voyage to 

 the sunny South. It will readily be gathered that these events and scenes, being mostly 

 of transient interest, do not go far towards varying the monotony of sea and sky during 

 a period of three months. And mainly for this reason so soon as the good ship, borne 

 steadily on her course by the grateful trade-winds, has passed through the Tropics and 

 reached the bird-latitudes of the South Atlantic, passengers of both sexes, whether berthed 

 in the poop or steerage, welcome with delight the first Albatross. The bright-eyed middy 

 who first descries the snowy breast and mighty wings of the noble bird sharply outlined 

 against the sky, becomes forthwith the central figure of an animated group of enquirers. 

 Very much to his own satisfaction does he pose as a "mariner of the long voyage," as 

 he spins his little yarn of the habits of the great ocean bird, its wonderful powers of 

 flight, and his own pet method of setting about its capture by means of a long line and 

 carefully-baited sail-hook. And very much to the satisfaction of his questioners is it to 

 learn that, now that the tropic zone has been cleared, Cape Pigeon or white-winged Tern, 

 Frigate-bird or Booby, Albatross or Molly-hawk, or some other member of the Ocean Bird 

 tribe, alike under blue skies or lowering rain-clouds, in howling gale or favouring weather, 

 will accompany the ship over some eight thousand miles of water until Australia's shores 

 are sighted. 



None but those who have studied Ocean Bird-life from a ship's decks in the course 

 of a long voyage can fully appreciate the charm of the companionship of these beautiful 



