65 



to attribute the increase of light in the sea, prior to 

 the storm, to an increment of temperature, which is the 

 precursor of a gale. On 12th July, 1823, at 6 P.M. 

 in 30 fathoms water, off the point of Dromore, in St. 

 George's Channel, air, 55.5 F., the surface water was 

 4-9, wind S.W. At 30 minutes past 8 P. M., off the 

 Mull of Galloway, in 60 fathoms water, air 54, water 

 52.5, wind S. S. W., commencement of a gale : 

 13th of July, at 20 minutes past 11 A. M., air 62, 

 water 56, off the Sand-banks of Liverpool. 



Hence the stormy pettrel, the dread of sailors, 

 apprized of the approaching storm, follows in the ship's 

 wake, the molluscae, roused to the surface by the 

 impending gale, may be its food. The flocks of this 

 bird (Procellaria pelagica] that have been occasionally 

 seen are really almost incredible. Judging from the 

 extent and depth, " ranks behind ranks close wedged," 

 of these congregated masses, 150 millions have been 

 enumerated. 



The great American bittern, so called in Wilson's 

 " American Ornithology," is stated by Mr. Franklin 

 Peale of Philadelphia and others to possess the power 

 of evolving a light from its breast equal to that of a com- 

 mon torch, and thus illuminating the water wherein 

 it takes its prey. This asserted fact, however, may 

 depend entirely on the attachment of luminous mol- 

 luscae cohering to the breast, in virtue of some adhesive 

 secretion. The stormy pettrel has indeed been ob- 

 served to suck its breast feathers, imbued with oleagi- 

 nous matter, collected, however, it may be supposed, 

 from the surface of the ocean. Thus the Baya or 

 Tenawhit of India illuminates its nest with the Fulgora 

 candelaria, causing them to adhere to its walls by clay. 



From the edge of the pier at Stranraer, on the coast 

 of Scotland, we took up a small portion of sea water, 



