THE NORTH SEA. 
331 
resting on a floating log, probably belonging to the same 
species. Towards evening two large Eagles overhauled 
us, both going N.E., but quite five miles apart. 
At 7 p.m., a pair of Gar den-Warblers came up 
astern together, and lit on the after-rail; then a 
Wheatear strove hard to overtake us, but, failing, 
apparently perished in a passing squall. At 8.45, just 
after a glorious sunset, another Wheatear joined the 
ship, and the kindly captain had some bread-crumbs and 
a saucer of fresh water set out for his uninvited guests. 
This old sea-dog, nevertheless, stoutly denied the possi¬ 
bility of birds flying across the sea, asserting that these 
had come with us from England. 
At daybreak on the 23rd, I was told the deck 
swarmed with small land-birds, but was not there to see. 
May 2 7th .—This morning, off the Norway coast, 
some hundreds of Brent Geese overhauled the Norge , 
going due north, doubtless to Spitsbergen direct. I 
have already recorded this fact elsewhere, but may add 
that on another voyage, on June 4th, we passed three 
Brents sitting on a glassy sea within a hundred yards of 
the ship, while yet in sight of Bommelo. The only 
other birds noticed on this occasion were two Swifts 
and a Skylark on the 26th, and a Tree-Pipit on 27th. 
I have notes of other voyages about this date, but 
without giving the details, which might become mono¬ 
tonous, will merely mention the following species seen 
at sea, to wit: Swallows, House- and Sand-Martins, 
Whinchat, Wheatear, and Willow-Wren, Jack-Snipe, 
Dunlin, and some unrecognized sandpipers. It should, 
however, be expressly added that all records refer to 
single birds, or to twos and threes at most. 
