558 



SOME BIRDS INDICATE LAND. 



Nov. 



particular kinds of birds, and noticing the direction in which 

 they fly, of an evening, about sunset. Short winged birds, 

 such as shags or boobies, seldom go a hundred miles from land, 

 and generally return to their accustomed roosting place at 

 night ; and even those with longer wings which fly farther, do 

 not habitually remain on the wing at night, though they are 

 known to do so sometimes, especially if attracted by a ship, 

 on which, doubtless, they would perch if she were to remain 

 motionless, and her crew were to be quiet for a short time. Misr 

 takes may occur in consequence of floating carcases, trunks of 

 trees, wrecks of vessels, or drifting seaweed, all which attract 

 birds and afibrd them rest at night ; but, generally speaking, 

 if there is land within fifty miles of a vessel, its existence will 

 be indicated, and the direction in which to look will be pointed 

 out by birds. Decided oceanic fowl, such as albatrosses and 

 all the petrel family, sleep upon the surface of their favourife 

 element ; therefore the flight of that description of bird can be 

 no guide whatever, except in the breeding season, when they 

 frequent the vicinity of land. 



Until I became aware of these facts, the discovery of the 

 almost innumerable islands in the great ocean of Magalhaens, 

 (erroneously, though now probably for ever called Pacific,) 

 caused great perplexity in my mind. That Easter Island, for 

 instance, such a speck in the expanse, and so far from other 

 land, should have been — not only discovered — but repeatedly 

 visited and successively peopled, by different parties of the 

 human family, seemed extraordinary, but now, connecting 

 the numerous accounts related by voyagers of canoes driven 

 hundreds of miles away from their desired place, with these 

 facts respecting birds, much of the mystery seems unra- 

 velled. 



Every one is well aware that uncivilized man is more atten- 

 tive to signs of weather, habits of animals, flight of the feathered 

 tribe, and other visible objects, important to his very existence, 

 than his educated brother, — who often diminishes the percep- 

 tive faculties of the mind, while he strengthens the power of 

 reflection and combination. 



