1894
April 17
At Sea
Noon observation: lat 24"52 ; long. 66"16 ; run  218 miles

  Clear with a strong but steady north wind and
a rugged but not really heavy sea through and
against which our deeply laden ship has struggled
slowly on.

  The water continues a deep, rich blue and
its surface is everywhere studded with floating
fragments of the brownish orange Saragossa weed.

  I have not seen a bird of any kind all day.
Even the Wilson's Petrels have deserted us. There  have
been a few Flying Fish most of them big
fellows - much larger in fact than any that
we saw among the islands.
  Since leaving Sombrero we [have] not met nor passed
a vessel of any kind. Indeed we seem to have
the whole ocean to ourselves.

  The air has been cool all day, indeed chilly at
times and we now find summer overcoats comfortable
if not necessary.

  Several of the passengers are taking pets north
with them. We have on board at least three
Yellow-headed Parrots, two large Orioles (Icterus icterus),
a Monkey (the small gray species found on Trinidad),
and an Agouti. The last-named is very tame and
gentle and is led about the deck on a chain. It
reminds me strongly of a Guinea Pig in its attitudes
and general behaviour.