4 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



most lovely evenings I have seen, the anchor was weighed, 

 and we steamed out of the Sound, obtaining our last view, 

 for some time to come, of the reaches of purple undulating 

 moorland stretching to the horizon beyond Plymouth, and the 

 tree-covered slopes of Mount Edgecumbe. It was a night of 

 serene beauty, and I lingered on deck for a time, taking a last 

 look at the land. The stars were bright and clear, and the 

 moon cast a track of splendour on the heaving bosom of the 

 water. At length the Eddystone light died out of sight, and 

 I retired to rest, realising that what had been a long-cherished 

 dream was in process of being accomplished — the opportunity 

 of seeing for myself, in their natural condition, the animals 

 and plants of other climes. 



On the following day much rain fell. The wind was right 

 ahead, and we steamed on against it, rolling very heavily at 

 times. In the forenoon, several porpoises were seen gambol- 

 ing about after their peculiar fashion, and a solitary tern was 

 observed flying over the water. Towards the close of the after- 

 noon the weather cleared up, and the sun appeared for a short 

 time before setting. There was a fine yeUow, rainy-looking 

 sunset, accompanied by a faint rainbow. On the 19th, we were 

 well into the celebrated Bay of Biscay. It was a bright sunny 

 day, and after a time, the wind shifted into a rather more 

 favourable direction, which permitted of fore-and-aft sails 

 being employed, so that, in addition to being kept more 

 steady, we were materially assisted on our way. A variety 

 of sea-birds, including gulls, terns, and stormy petrels, were 

 seen. The 21st was also fine, but the wind less favourable. 

 In the forenoon a couple of small whales* were seen, and in 

 the afternoon a large merchant-ship, the " Sardis " of London, 



* It may be worth while recording, for the benefit of naturalists who have 

 not travelled abroad, that all Cetacea which are not of very great size, but at 



