128 JVatural History of the Ocean, ^e. 



was a third time blown into the lungs and was followed by 

 a discharge of water from the mouth and nostrils. Aqua 

 ammoniae was applied to the nose, and volatile linament 

 to the breast and back. The person soon began to breathe 

 with tolerable freedom, and was able to swallow some warm 

 cordial ; a small quantity of blood was now taken, and he 

 was the next day conveyed home to his friends. 

 New-Haven, March 25th, 1822. 



Art. XVII. — On the Natural History of the Ocean, with 

 two sea journals. 



TO PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. 



New- York, April, 2, 1822. 



My Dear Sir, 



A short time ago, my friend, C. A. Davis, Esq. handed 

 to me a journal kept on board the U. S. Ship Columbus, 

 Com. Bainbridge. Upon comparing it with one that I 

 kept on my passage from Liverpool to New- York, I was 

 induced to turn my attention to the waters of the Ocean— 

 and have drawn up a paper on its Natural History, which 

 I now offer to you. I have of course been obliged to con- 

 sult several works and papers, from which I have selected 

 such information as accorded with my design. 

 I place both journals at your disposal. 

 With much respect, 



I have the honor to be 

 Very truly, yours, 



JER. VAN RENSSELAER. 



Colour. — Deep indigo blue — green on soundings ; — these 

 tints being most distinctly marked in the tropics. In the 

 polar regions, the waters are greenish. Near the Cape of 

 Good Hope, the sea has a reddish tinge, in the month of 

 March, from marine animals : the same appearance is pro- 

 duced by the same cause at the mouth of the river Plate. 

 Admiral Byron observed this on his passage to Rio Janei- 

 ro. The bay of California is red, in parts, from the abun- 



