42 REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1899 



appeared, but he did not stay for more than a week or two. 

 Specimens of this fine northern species have more than once 

 been killed in the vicinity of the islands. 



But I have already digressed at too great length, and 

 must return to ourselves. It was a keen disappointment to 

 many of the party, who had good " sea legs," not to be 

 able to visit more of the islands ; but after steaming past 

 the Pinnacles, and standing some way on our course to the 

 Orumstone — where it was hoped that a view of the Seals 

 {Halichmrus gryphus), which make that lonely rock their 

 home, might have been obtained — compassion for those who 

 were not enjoying themselves prevailed, and the order was 

 reluctantly given to 'bout ship and run for home. As a 

 consequence of thus not completing our programme, we 

 arrived off the mouth of the Tweed considerably sooner than 

 had been anticipated, and the boats that had been chartered 

 to come olf to take us ashore were not in readiness. The 

 state of the tide would not allow the good ship "Empress 

 of India " to enter the river, and there was therefore nothing 

 for it but to cast anchor, and, by blowing the syren, 

 endeavour to attract the attention of our boatmen to the 

 fact that we had returned and were ready for them to take 

 us ashore. It was weary work this waiting, and a very 

 long hour had passed before the last of the party had been 

 safely landed upon the pier, and long before our release 

 from "the trough of the sea" could be effected, there were 

 few of us who had not had enough of it, and who from 

 the bottom of our hearts were not disposed to agree with 

 the lines of the Aphorism oj Enoyna, that 



" He who goes to sea for pleasure 

 Will fiud comfort in Gehenna." 



