1891.
June 19
Atlantic Ocean.
Lat. 51 [degrees] 14' N. Lon 13 [degrees] 30' W. Run 451 miles
A.M. clear and warm with light S.E. wind. Sea
deep blue, rough & hillocky with small waves but
no white caps and steamer going steadily.
P.M. foggy and calm. We reached Queenstown
at 11.30 P.M.
  From 9.30 to 10.30 A.M. the ocean was
literally alive with birds all apparently of the 
same species as those seen on the 17th. They
were scattered about everywhere in flocks of from
four or five to two hundred or more the usual
number being forty to fifty. For a full hour
(during which our swift steamer covered fully
twenty miles) we were never once out of sight
of them and ordinarily from two to four or five
flocks could be seen at one time in
different directions. After 10.30 their numbers
decreased rapidly and not a single bird
was noted after 11 A.M. Most of them were
sitting on the water the larger flocks forming
solid bars or lines like those of "bedded" Scoters.
As the steamer approached they would usually
rise some half-a-mile or more off to our side,
others close under the bows, clearing the 
water with difficulty after a vigorous use of
both feet and wings and making off with
low, heavy yet withal swift strong and direct
flight resembling, as I watched it to-day,
that of a White Ibis or Oyster Catcher rather