PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 233 



ourselves by studying the constellations, of which the 

 northern ones will soon leave us. The sea begins to ex- 

 hibit a greater abundance of animals. Cranch is at length 

 preparing to fish up whatever he can catch. In the last 

 few days we have constantly seen and caught a great 

 number of Portuguese men-of-war ( Holothuria physalis) ; 

 also a small eatable Velllla (which I sketched) ; a Salpa! 

 which emits light, and a Medusa, with four tentacula. On 

 board the Congo I saw a Loligo vulgaris, and a fragment 

 of a small Nautilus, covered by a species of Lepas. 



The Congo has for some days been sailing at a slow 

 rate, and is now again taken in tow. Cranch, I fear, by 

 his absurd conduct, will diminish the liberality of the 

 Captain towards us. He is like a pointed arrow to the 

 company. 



April 5th. To-day the deep azure colour of the water 

 lias suddenly chantjed into a dark sea-green colour. Last 

 night we crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The latitude 

 to-day at noon is 22°. 



April 7th. The water of the sea has again resumed its 

 usual colour. The anomalous temperatare of the sea, its 

 green colour, and the great number of Mollusca that were 

 seen, seemed to indicate that we were in soundings, but a 

 line of one hundred fathoms was tried Avithout success. 



April 8th. We got in sight of the island of Bonavista, and 

 passed its S. E. side at the distance of ... . leagues. Its 

 appearance resembled that of the eastern Canaries. Its 

 height can scarcely be greater than theirs, but none of its 

 higher hills had a volcanic form. 



