SOUTHERN CRUISE. 155 
stant gales they had experienced since leaving Cape Horn. Several 
birds were shot this day, including an albatross and many penguins. 
Petrels and Cape pigeons were seen. They now began to fall in with 
icebergs in numbers. The temperature of the water and air had 
fallen to 33° and 32°. 
On the 15th and 16th they had very many icebergs as their 
companions, mostly of fantastic shapes, much worn and broken, — 
disagreeable weather, with snow-squalls passing over. A continued 
twilight in the horizon and slight appearances of the aurora were 
seen, but no rays. 
They encountered during the 17th and part of the 18th, the 
heaviest gale and sea they had experienced since leaving the United 
States. The thermometer in the air stood at 21° of Fahrenheit, and 
in the water at 28°. The ship was completely coated with ice, even 
to the gun-deck. Every spray thrown over her froze, and her bows 
and deck were fairly packed with it. The crew suffered much from 
the gun-deck being constantly wet, and it being now covered with 
ice, caused the ship to be damp throughout. 
On the 18th the gale continued, with a heavy sea, the winds now 
prevailing more from the south and south-southeast. There were 
many birds about the ship; among them a sheath-bill, which Mr. 
Peale made every exertion to take, but without success. A blue petrel 
was, however, caught. Several icebergs were in sight, and at night 
they had a beautiful display of the aurora australis, extending from 
south-southwest to east. The rays were of many colours, radiating 
towards the zenith, and reaching an altitude of 30°. Several brilliant 
meteors were also observed. 
Hot coffee was now served to the crew at midnight, or at relieving 
of the watch, which proved exceedingly acceptable. The tempera- 
ture of the air had fallen to 22°, and of the water to 28°. 
On the 1 9th they had another display of the aurora, and it exhi- 
bited a peculiar effect. In the southern quarter there was an 
appearance of a dense cloud, resembling a shadow cast upon the 
sky, and forming an arch about 10° in altitude. Above this were 
seen coruscations of light, rendering all objects around the ship 
visible. From behind this cloud diverging rays frequently shot up 
to an altitude of from 25° to 45°. These appearances continued until 
day dawned. The night was remarkably fine, and many shooting 
stars were observed. The barometer stood at 29-77 in. During the 
afternoon of this day a fog-bank was perceived in the southwestern 
