278 TROPIC BIRDS. 



about him as long as he remains in the water ; 

 and a very short time after he has been hauled 

 on board, they can sometimes be taken by a 

 basket from the chains, as they swim at that 

 time very superficially, and sometimes have 

 been known (but rarely) to take bait. 



On the 18th, in latitude 2^ 20' north, and 

 longitude 25° 26' west, we got the north-east 

 trade, far to the northward, being north-north- 

 east, moderate and fresh breezes,* and on the 

 7th of April, we lost the north-east trade in about 

 30'' 31' north, and longitude 44^^ 20' west. 



On the 1st of April, in latitude 23° 17' north, 

 and longitude 42° 50' west, several tropic birds 

 f Phaeton oethereus) were seen hovering over the 

 ship ; this was considered a very unusual circum- 

 stance, from the distance we then were from land. 

 The longest distance these birds have been seen 



* I am informed by Mr. William Holderness, that in the 

 month of October, 1828, when on a voyage from Guayaquil 

 and Lima, in the brig Bolivar, E. Bransfield, R. N., commander 

 having heard rumours of war in Europe, they touched at 

 Pernambuco, to ascertain its correctness, and left the next 

 day, carrying the south-east trade to about 12° north latitude. 

 After a few days calm, they got fine breezes from south-west, 

 which carried them across the usual limits of the north-east 

 trade, and then had nothing but light north-east winds until 

 they reached Gibraltar. 



