THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, 179 



of which they are in search. I have been surprised 

 to notice how very quickly a flock will collect, 

 though a few moments before scarcely one could 

 be seen in any direction; and again they disperse 

 as speedily. They seem to have the power of dis- 

 pensing Avitli sleep, at least for very long intervals. 

 Wilson, one of the most accurate of observers, has 

 recorded a fact illustrative of this : " In firing at 

 these birds, a quill-feather was broken in each wing 

 of an individual, and hung fluttering in the wind, 

 which rendered it so conspicuous among the rest, as 

 to be known to all on board. This bird, notwith- 

 standing its inconvenience, continued with us for 

 nearly a iveek, during which we sailed a distance 

 of more than four hundred miles to the north." Of 

 course, if this individual had gone to sleep, the 

 vessel would have sailed away, and we can hardly 

 imagine that it would have again found her in her" 

 pathless course. I do not believe they have ever 

 been known to alight on the rigging or deck of » 

 ship. 



It is a pity that so interesting a little creature 

 as this should become the object of a degrading 

 and meaningless superstition. The persuasion that 

 they are in some mj^sterious manner connected with 

 the creation of storms, is so prevalent among sea- 

 men, as to render them, innocent and confiding as 

 they are, objects of general dislike, and often even 

 of hatred. I once made a voyage with a captain, 

 who, though a man of much intelligence, was not, 

 proof against this absurd superstition, venting hearty 

 execrations against these "devil's imps," as he called 



