had been made at Teneriffe by Mr. Walker, under my direction, and another in South America,* including the seeds of the cotton plant. From the Cape and from England I had also procured other useful plants, and had planned that the vessel, on quitting Timor with the horses, should be filled in every vacant space with young cocoa-nut trees and other fruits, together with useful animals, such as goats and sheep, in addition to the stock we conveyed from the Cape.

* We had been able to introduce several useful plants into the Cape; amongst others the South American Yam, which, owing to the quality of the potatoes, and their great fluctuations in price, will eventually be very serviceable to the colonists, more especially for the use of whalers.

CHAPTER III.

FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE TO HANOVER BAY-

NATURAL HISTORY.

FORSTER'S PACHYPTILA-(Pachyptila Vittata.)

October 16.--I shot a female petrel; it had a nail planted in the heel, but no thumb; the bill was hooked at the end, the extremity of which seemed to consist of a distinct piece, articulated with the remainder; the nostrils were united, and formed a tube laid on the back of the upper family of Pe

mandible, hence it belonged to the trels (Procellariæ.)

Colour of beak and legs black; body white underneath; general colour above, a light bluish slate, which grows darker in the head and wing covers; tail tipped with black; the four first wing feathers tinged with black.

I also shot this afternoon three Cape pigeons (Procellaria Capensis), white underneath, spotted black and white above.

Two species of insects were found in these Cape pigeons.

The only difference I have been able to observe between the male and female of these birds is, that the male has the black spots of rather a deeper hue.

BIRDS THE ALBATROSS.

39

October 21.-Latitude, 38° 15' s.; longitude, 35° 53′ E. From a variety of observations, I am able to bear testimony to the correctness of a fact that has been before noticed, viz. that the Medusa invariably live in families. This single circum

stance is remarkable in connection with other points of natural history, since it will tend to explain the reason of certain classes of Petrels (Procellaria) only visiting particular parts of the

ocean.

Sunday, October 22.-Latitude, 37° 44' s.; longitude, 38° 00′ E. Caught two small animals, one closely resembling a small shrimp (Penæus), but having the head covered with a most beautiful purple shield. I kept this alive in a jug. The other in size and appearance exactly like a purple grape (Hyalaa), with a greenish tinge at one extremity surrounding an aperture, and a distinct aperture at the other extremity. It was 0.4 inches in diameter, and had the power of emitting a phosphorescent light. I have since this period found several varieties of this animal; which, when it expands itself, closely resembles an insect, and has little wings. Further on will be found a sketch of these animals in their expanded state. (p. 51. f. 1.)

THE ALBATROSS.-(Diomedea Exulans.)

We caught four of these birds yesterday, from which I made the following measurements :

Temperature 98°,-the thermometer placed under the tongue during life. These measurements were all made during the lifetime of the bird.

SECOND SPECIMEN-Weight, 15 lbs.

The largest bird of the kind I have hitherto seen.

The beak of each of these birds during lifetime was of a beautiful light rose colour; their voice was something like that of a goose, but rather louder, deeper, and hoarser. If during life the beak