404 LET ,T E R S. 
fometimes we caught with our hook, or fmall birds 
driven by the winds to feek fhelter with us, were 
all I had to fatisfy my curiofity, and employ my 
time, in defcribing and reducing them to their 
proper tribe. The latter, viz. wag-tails, buntings, 
fparrows, larks, vifited us oftener than we de- 
fired ; as they never foreboded good. They be- 
gan their vifus in the Baltic, and continued them 
to the Archipelago, and as often as a little bird 
came on board us, we were always fure of hard 
weather. Thefe little creatures are as forward at 
fea as on Ihore to take refuge with men. I fhould 
imagine, our Divines ought not to be ignorant of 
this propenfity in them, as it very well explains the 
reafon why Noah’s dove, which was of the fame 
tribe, was fo faithful as to return to the ark, ra- 
ther than keep out at fea, or live in a world defti- 
tute of men. 
I have always taken care to get hold of fome 
of thefe travellers, and have defcribed about thirty 
of them ; fome of which I have feen in Sweden, 
others not. I had them all preferved ; but loft 
them by an unlucky accident. 
It vvas entertaining to fee, when a lark intended 
to come and vifit us, which however never hap- 
pened, unlefs we were near fome fhore, that it had 
the fame aftion at fea as on land, fhooting down* 
and riling again perpendicularly ; but it was ill" 
adapted to its nature, as there were no green fields 
whereon it might reft : this bird is not calculated 
to reft on the lea, therefore the greateft part of 
them perillied in the waves ; a few only, and thole 
almoft dead reaching us. I had a great inclination 
to lee the Peteril, but not one appeared, though 
there were frequent opportunities. I alfo alked 
«ur old fenmen, who for many years frequented 
the 
