Ch.XI, south AMERICA. 105 



prehended under the generical name of Guanoes. A 

 little after the appearance of the fun, they rife froni 

 thofe iflands in fuch large and thick flights as to- 

 tally to cover them, and fly tov^ards the fea for an 

 hour or two, without any vifible decreafe of their 

 number. When at fome diftance from the land they 

 (divide themfelves, and begin their lifhing in a very 

 entertaining manner. They fly in a circle at a con- 

 iiderable height above the water, and on feeing a 

 fifli, they dart down with their beak foremofl: and 

 their wings clofed, with fuch force that the agita- 

 tion of the water is feen at a diftance ; after which 

 they rife again into the air and devour the fifb. 

 Sometimes they remain a conflderable time under 

 water, and rife at fome diftance from the place 

 where they fell, doubtlefs becaufe the fifh has endea- 

 voured to efcape, thus difputing celerity with them 

 in their own element. They are continually feen in 

 the place they frequent, fome watching in gyra- 

 tions, fome darting down, others riflng with their 

 prey ; while their great numbers render this con* 

 fufion diverting to the fpedator. When they are 

 either tired or fatisfied they alight upon the waves, 

 and at fun fet, forming themfelves into one body, 

 withdraw to the iflands v/here they pafs the night. 



At the port of Callao it is obferved, that all the 

 birds which reft on thofe iflands to the N. of it, in the 

 morning univerfaliy fly towards the S. in queft of prey, 

 returning in the evening to their place of reft ; wher^ 

 the middle of the flight is over the harbour neither the 

 beginning nor end can be feen, and the whole flock 

 take up two or three hours in pafling over. 



Though fliell fifli are very fcarce along this coaft, 

 fome are found near Callao particularly a kind, the 

 jfliell of which refembles that of a mufcle, though much 

 larger. The fifli itfelf has more the appearance of aq 

 pyftcr, and much the fame tafte. 



The 



