THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



87 



from the sun by day and the dampness by night. When 

 full a hundred leagues at sea, a female Rice Bunting came 

 on board, and remained with us one night, and part of a 

 day. A Warbler also came, but remained only a few 

 minutes, and then made for the land we had left. It 

 moved while on board with great activity and sprightli- 

 ness ; the Bunting, on the contrary, was exhausted, panted, 

 and I have no doubt died of inanition. 



Many Sooty Terns were in sight during several days. 

 I saw one Frigate Pelican high in air, and could only judge 

 it to be such through the help of a telescope. Flocks of 

 unknown birds were also about the ship during a whole 

 day. They swam well, and preferred the water to the 

 air. They resembled large Phalaropes, but I could not 

 be certain. A small Alligator, that I had purchased for 

 a dollar in New Orleans, died at the end of nine days, 

 through my want of knowledge, or thought, that salt 

 matter was poisonous to him. In two days he swelled to 

 nearly double his natural size, breathed hard, and, as I 

 have said, died. 



In latitude 24°, 27', a Green Heron came on board, and 

 remained until, becoming frightened, it flew towards the 

 brig "Gleaner;" it did not appear in the least fatigued. 

 The captain of the brig told me that on a former voyage 

 from Europe to New Orleans, when about fifty leagues 

 from the Balize, a fully grown Whooping Crane came on 

 board his vessel during the night, passing over the length 

 of his deck, close over his head, over the helmsman, and 

 fell in the yawl; the next morning the bird was found 

 there completely exhausted, when every one on board 

 supposed it had passed on. A cage was made for it, but 

 it refused food, lingered a few days, an len died. It 

 was plucked and found free from any wound, and in good 

 condition; a very singular case in birds of the kind, that 

 are inured to extensive journeys, and, of course liable to 

 spend much time without the assistance of food. . 







