. 4 8 
FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 
teen albatross were killed to-day, the excuse being that 
' they may be of value.' 
ii*^ December. — Still strong winds and gales from south 
and west, and we make no progress to speak of, but 
hammer away in the same place under close-reefed top- 
sail and staysails. Saw a sea-swallow to-day — the first 
we have seen. It is the prettiest bird of the sea, I think 
— our halcyon of summer days in the north. It had a 
.spot of white in the middle of its black cap. 
We picked up some sea-weed to-day — a long, amber- 
coloured, round stem, with pear-shaped pendants, hanging 
like leaves, at intervals of a few inches. On the base of 
each pendant there were exquisite clusters of barnacles of 
delicate grey, violet, and white. 
A great variety of birds are following us now, or rather 
flying about our neighbourhood ; for we can scarcely be 
said to have been moving, but merely pounding up and 
down in the same hole, making nothing but lee way. 
