sides a cot, or bed, which is only hung up at 



night. 



30th. We have seen the man-of-war bird 

 to-day. It has a membranaceous bag like that 

 of a pelican, bright red the plumage is brown. 

 It is always on the wing, very seldom having 

 been observed to settle on the masts of ships. 

 Other sea-birds, when tired of flying, generally rest 

 themselves on the surface of the water ; but the 

 very great length of the wing makes it impossible 

 for this bird to do so, as it could not easily rise 

 again . 



When we were becalmed this morning, we had 

 an opportunity of seeing a number of birds of 

 various kinds, the albatross, among others ; and 

 one of the dark-coloured variety was caught 

 with a small fishing-line ; it measured seven feet 

 between the tips of the wings. Its face is very 

 remarkable, for its flat head and crooked bill 

 give it some resemblance to the owl, which is 

 increased by its large prominent eyes. As we 

 ad\ 7 ance to the north this species will become 

 scarce, Captain M. says, but we shall have the 

 great albatross, which is by far the largest of all 

 aquatic birds. 



July 2d. I have been delighted with the fly- 

 ing fish, of which we have seen numbers for 

 some days. They ascend sparkling out of the 



