26 
" Tliey feed with avidity on the oily sub- 
stances which are thrown overboard, but 
with great good nature, their manners 
being so gentle, that I never observed the 
slightest appearance of quarrelling or dis- 
pute among them." 
" One circumstance is worthy of being 
noticed, and shews the vast range they take 
over the ocean. In firing at these birds a 
quill feather was broke in each wing of an 
individual, and hung fluttering in the wind, 
which rendered it so conspicuous among 
the rest as to be known to all on board. 
This bird, notwithstanding its inconve- 
nience, continued with us, for nearly a week 
in a voyage from New Orleans to New 
York, during which we sailed more than 
four hundred miles to the north. Flocks 
continued to follow us until near Sandy 
Hook." 
« The length of time these birds re- 
main on wing is no less surprising. As 
soon as it was light enough in the morning 
to perceive them in the month of July, they 
were found roaming about as usual ; and 
I have often sat in the evening watching 
