A MIRAGE. 23 



CHAPTER III. 



AT SEA. 



Departure from Valparaiso — Islands of San Felix and San Ambrose — 

 Phaeton and Frigate Birds — Bonito Fish — Eclipse of the Moon — 

 Dorado Fish — Passage of the Tropic — Tunny Fish — Floating 

 Varec — In Sight of San Francisco — Heavy Fog — Pelicans, 

 Porpoises, Sea-Lions, or Seals — Bay of San Francisco — Guillemots 

 — Arrival at San Francisco. 



jN the 14th of June we sailed from Valparaiso, but for 

 want of wind we were obliged to return to the bay for 

 the night. On the 15th, which was a Sunday, the boats were 

 lowered, and the sailors had to tow the ship for several hours, 

 as there was no wind whatever ; but in the evening a good 

 breeze, which lasted up to the i8th, took us a long way from 

 the coast. 



On the igth, a northern overtook us, and we had several 

 miserable days and nights to endure, besides the constant 

 danger of being wrecked. Afterwards, we learnt that this 

 northern had been also felt in Valparaiso, and that several 

 ships were lost. 



On the 2oth, the northern abated, and we progressed 

 satisfactorily. On the 22nd, we sighted San Felix, and San 

 Ambrose Islands. When in view of these islands, an extra- 

 ordinary mirage appeared to us. Ships were seen anchored 

 in the bay of San Felix, a large town defended by a fortress ; 

 country houses, etc., were visible on shore, and the captain 

 was very much puzzled about the whole thing. He did not 

 leave the marine glass for a moment. This extraordinary 

 vision lasted all the time that we were in sight of the island, 

 which is marked on the map as uninhabited. 



On the 28th, and following days, we saw many Phaeton 

 and Frigate birds. The former one is a beautiful white bird, 

 with two long narrow feathers projecting from the tail, from 

 which it takes its French name of "Paille en queue." It 

 belongs to the order Gaviae, and the family Phaetonidae. 

 Only three species are known, Phaeton aethereus, flavirostris 

 and rubricaudus. They are closely allied to the Petrels 

 2 



