CANARY ISLANDS. 21 



cluttering sound like frogs. In June and July, or about 

 the time that they breed, they are still seen out at sea for 

 scores of leagues from the land, the swiftness of their flight 

 allowing them daily to make their vast excursions in quest 

 of their ordinary prey ; and hence, besides their suspicious 

 appearance in braving storms, as if aided by the dark 

 Ruler of the air, they breed, according to the vulgar opin- 

 ion of sailors, like no other honest bird, for, taking no time 

 for the purpose on land, they merely hatch their egg under 

 their wings, as they sit on the water. 



" The food of this species, according to Wilson, appears 

 to consist, as he says, of the gelatinous spora of the Gulf- 

 weed (Fucus natans. Lin.) as well as small fish, barna- 

 cles, and probably, many small mollusca. Their flesh is 

 rank, oily, and unpleasant to the taste. Their food is 

 even converted into oil by the digestive process, and they 

 abound with it to such a decree, that according to Brun- 

 nick, the inhabitants of the Fero Isles make their carcases 

 to serve the purpose of a candle, by drawing a wick through 

 the mouth and rump, which being lighted, the flame is for 

 a considerable time supported by the fat and oil of the 

 body.-"' 



In passing over the vast and watery deep, it is wondered 

 why its inhabitants do not more frequently exhibit them- 

 selves ; for often whole days pass by without observing 

 anything possessed with life, and even weeks, except now 

 and then a shoal of porpoises, making their "uncouth 

 gambols" around the bow of our vessel, and the grampus 

 slowly throwing his unwieldy form above the water, or the 

 voracious shark, darting like a spectre just below its sur- 

 face. But when we reflect on the immensity of the ocean, 

 of its immeasurable depths, which probably extend as far 

 below^ its surface as the highest of our mountains are ele- 

 vated above it, and when we consider that its bottom is 

 diversified with mountains, valleys and plains, how vast are 

 the spaces susceptible of affording adaptation and suste- 

 nance to countless tribes of beings. And when we look 

 around us, we see every mountain and marsh, every wil- 

 derness and wood, teeming whh myriads of living crea- 

 tures, all adapted to their respective situations, and pos* 



