voyage across the north seas. 
81 
ship told me he.had seen them in the middle of the Atlantic during the breeding- 
season, which, if true, is remarkable, as the offices of incubation must be 
neglected, supposing that they really stray so far from home. These birds, in 
the stormy weather which distorts the face of the ocean during the gloomy months 
of winter, to escape drowning in the 44 rude imperious surge,” take refuge in the 
chains of passing ships, where they allow themselves to be captured, having no 
doubt reduced the chances of danger to a calculation. It speaks well for the 
humanity of sailors, to know that they are generally turned off again, like 
Noah’s Pigeon, to go whither they list, when 44 the winds are all hushed, and the 
waters at rest.” Their cry is peculiarly wild, and on calm nights, when the 
darkness of the atmosphere permits them to approach a ship close without being- 
perceived, it is startling. One could fancy the Tritons and Mermen sounding 
their warwhoop. 
The sea is here deep green, and beautifully clear, allowing objects to be seen 
eight and ten feet beneath its surface. I was gratified with the appearance of 
an immense number of Jelly-fish (Acalepha libera). They were of several 
species, but all my efforts to get one on deck for examination proved abortive. 
The most common kind was one with a large Mushroom-shaped body, about a 
foot over, with streaming roots four feet long; at the first view not unlike 
Rkizostoma ccerulea of Cuvier in shape. Individuals differed materially in size. 
Another was of a circular shape, about the size of a pressed Apple, without 
streamers or roots, as I have called them. I tried to haul some up in a bucket, 
and to catch others with Cod-hooks, but they eluded the first, and the latter broke 
through the soft texture of their bodies, as they heavily passed the side of the 
vessel, inflating and collapsing their members. 
The following day gave us a view of the blue cliffs of Norway, off Flickers, at 
the distance of twenty miles. It was pleasing to see land again, even after so 
short a space of absence from it as a few days. I took the telescope, and 
endeavoured to catch some of its minor features, but could make out nothing- 
more than precipitous rocks, rising, as it seemed, from the edge of the water, the 
craggy uneven summits of which stood out in relief against the horizon. We 
again rigged out our fishing-gear, but now used what is called a 44 railing” 
apparatus, our intention being to try for Mackerel (Scomber scomber , Linn.) and 
Garfish (Belone vulgaris). It consists of. three or four pounds of lead cast in the 
shape of a boat, with a stick a foot long bound on at the stern, in the manner of 
an 44 outrigger.” To this is attached a hook on a string six feet long; and a 
strong cord tied to the stem part is let out till about thirty yards are carried out ; 
and the ship, going at the rate of three or four knots, tightens the whole, and 
prevents the hooks going deeper than six or seven feet in the water. Not a fish 
rewarded our trouble this day. The Captain propounded an explanation of our 
VOL. iv.— NO. XXVI. 
M 
