>77’ - out of every root, lying within each other, and formed a
very warm covering. As they are almoft continually in
the air, their wings are very ftrong, and of a great length
to fupport them. On the ocean, between New Zeeland
and America, we have found them above feven hundred
leagues from any land ; a diftance which it would have
been impoffible for them to have Raffed, without an amazing
ftrength in their bones and mufdes, and the afliftance
of long wings. Poffibly thefe birds fpreading over the
whole ocean far from any land, may live a confiderable
time without frefh fupplies of food; that being the cafe
with many animals of prey, both in the clafs of quadrupeds
and that of birds. Our experience Ihould feem in
fome meafure to contradict, and in fome degree to confirm,
this fuppofition. For whenever we lamed any
of them, they difgorged a quantity of vifcid food, to
all appearance recently digefted, which the reft immediately
fwallowed up with fuch avidity as feemed to
indicate a long faft. Therefore it may be probable, that
feveral forts of blubbers (molhfca) inhabit thefe icy feas,
which may come to the furface in fair weather, and fup-
ply the weary birds with food. We were glad to meet
with fubjeCts from whence thefe little reflections could be
drawn. They afforded us a momentary relief from that
gloomy uniformity with which we flowly. paffed dull
hours, days, and months in this defolate part of the
world,
world. We were almoft perpetually wrapt in thick fogs, ***»■
beaten with fhowers of rain, fleet, hail, and fnow, the
temperature of the air being conftantly about the point of
congelation in the height of fummer; furrounded by innumerable
iflands of ice againft which we daily ran the
rilk of being fhipwrecked, and forced to live upon fait
provifions, which concurred with the cold and wet to
infeCt the mafs of our blood. Thefe feverities naturally
infpired a general wifh for a happier change of flotation
and climate, though our feamen coming frefh and ftrong
from England, were not yet difpirited amidft the number-
lefs fatigues and inclemencies to which they were ex-
pofed. The prophylactics, with which we had been fup-
plied, and which were regularly fe-rved to the crew, namely
portable broth, and four krout, had a wonderful effeCt in
keeping them free from the fea-fcurvy. Two or three
men however, of a bad habit of body, could not refill this
dreadful difeafe; one of them in particular, George Jack-
fon, a carpenter, fell ill ten days after leaving the Cape;
his gums were ulcerous, and his teeth fo loofe, as to lie
fideways. A marmalade of carrots, which had been much
recommended was tried, but without fuccefs, it having
no other effeCt than that of keeping him open. Our fur-
geon, Mr. Patton, then began the cure with frefh wort, i. e.
the infufion of malt, by which he gradually recovered, and
in the fpace of a few weeks was perfectly cured, his teeth
v ° l. I. P fall.