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it certainly, minute as it is, lives out on the broad ocean, and 
from its great rarity at certain seasons, and abundance at 
others, would appear to approach the shore for tho purpose of 
propagation. It is a marvel to see these little dots bobbing 
about just on the crests of the waves, and when pursued dive 
down through them. There are two species I have taken at 
Port Louis, and this resembled one of them, grey with a white 
abdomen, a black line on the back. Both kinds are diamond 
shaped, with large prominent eyes, shaggy thighs, very long 
hind and short fore legs, the antennae and palpa resembling a 
spider. The little creature was so active and sprang about 
with such celerity I had a difficulty in securing him after he 
got his feet clear of the net. 1 have watched these insects 
often very closely, but have never been able to discover what 
changes they undergo, and I believe nothing is as yet known 
of their habits by the scientific world. 
‘‘The sperm whales (Catodon polycyphaa I believe,) are very 
abundant in this ocean and we several times saw them quite 
close to the bows of the Frigate, though the vessel’s rapidly 
cleaving the waves seemed to startle them. 
“On Tuesday about 3 p.m. we sighted Agalega, but it lies so 
low, it is not observed till near. "Wo ran within two miles 
of it, hove to, and fired a gun, but saw no signs of houses or 
people. The sea was breaking roughly over the coral reefs 
which nearly surround this Island and extend some distance 
from the shore ; so we did not laud, which I much regretted, for 
I wished to obtain some of the wild partridges, guinea fowls 
and peacocks said to be native there as well as other things of 
great interest to me. 
“Agalega is 1 1 miles long and entirely of coral formation, 
and has been in fact two islands, the channel between having 
been so nearly filled in, that at low water it can be crossed on 
foot. There are a few houses here but we passed to tho W. 
so did not see them, and filaos and cocoa-nut trees appear very 
numerous. 
“After leaving Agalega, we came io some extensive Banks 
when souudings were taken from ‘29 to 35 fathoms. Thg ar- 
mature of the lead was, at my request furnished me. On 
