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30 SWALLOW—LANCEROTA. 
einity of the volcanoes of Quito, and in that part of 
the South Sea which washes the shores of Guatimala. 
According to the observations of Benzenberg and 
Brandes, many falling stars noticed in Europe were 
only 63,950 yards, or a little more than 36 miles 
high; and one was measured, the elevation of which 
did not exceed 29,843 yards, or about 17 miles. 
In warm climates, and especially between the tro- 
pics, they often leave behind them a train which 
remains luminous for twelve or fifteen seconds. At 
other times they seem to burst, and separate into a 
number of sparks. They are generally much lower 
than in the north of Europe. These meteors can be 
observed only when the sky is clear; and perhaps 
none has ever been seen beneath a cloud. Accord- 
ing to the observations of M. Arago, they usually 
follow the same course for several hours; and in 
this case their direction is that of the wind. 
When the voyagers were 138 miles to the east of 
Madeira, a common swallow (Hirundo rustica) 
perched on the topsail-yard, and was caught. What 
could induce a bird, asks our traveller, to fly so far 
at this season, and in calm weather? In the expe- 
dition of Entrecasteaux, a swallow was also seen 
at the distance of 207 miles off Cape Blanco; but 
this happened about the end of October, and M. 
Labillardiere imagined that it had newly arrived 
from Europe. 
The Pizarro had beert ordered to touch at Lan- 
cerota, one of the Canaries, to ascertain whether the 
harbour of Santa Cruz in Teneriffe was blockaded 
by the English ; and on the 16th, in the afternoon, 
the seamen discovered land, which proved to be 
that island. As they advanced, they saw first the 
