PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
13 
ject, except in the instance of the St. Lawrence Islands, in Beering’s CHAP. 
Strait, the vicinity to which is always indicated by the Crested Auk (alca 
crestatella). But the following fact may be serviceable in adding weight Sept, 
to the opinion, provided it were not accidental ; and if so, it may still 
be useful in calling the attention of others to the subject. Off the 
River Plate, we fell in with the dusky albatross ( diomedia fulginosa ), 
and as we proceeded southward, they became very numerous ; but on 
reaching the latitude of 5V S. they all quitted us. We rounded the 
cape; and on regaining the same parallel of 51° S. on the opposite side, 
they again came round us, and accompanied the ship up the Chili coast. 
The pintados were our constant attendants the whole way. 
Prom the time of our leaving England, the temperature of the 
surface of the sea had been registered every two hours. Off Cape Horn, 
I caused it to be tried every hour, under an impression that it might 
apprise us of our approach to floating ice, when, from the darkness of 
the night, or foggy weather, it could not be seen ; a plan I would recom- 
mend being adopted, as it may be useful, notwithstanding its fallibility ; 
for when ice in detached masses is drifting fast with the wind, it extends 
its influence a very short way in the direction of its course : but on 
the other hand, its effect may be felt a considerable distance in its wake. 
We had only one warning of this nature, by a decrease of temperature 
of four degrees, which lasted about an hour. The temperature of 
the sea, at the greatest depth our lines would reach, was not below 
39 , 2^ Off the Falkland Islands, it was the same at 854 fathoms as 
at 60o fathoms. The lowest temperature of the air was 26°. The 
current, which at a distance from the land runs fast to the eastward 
to the discomfiture of ships bound in the opposite direction, near the 
coast to the i\estward of Cape Horn, at first entirely ceased, and after- 
wards took a contrary course. There is much reason to believe that 
it continues this north-westerly course, and ultimately falls into the 
northerly current so prevalent along the coast of Chili. 
The wind was now favourable for luaking progress to the northward. 
My instructions did not direct me to proceed to any port on the coast 
of Chili, but circumstances rendered it necessary to put into one of them, 
and I selected Conception as being the most desirable for our purpose.’ 
