CHAPTER XII.Tomb of Napoleon—The willows—Contrasted feelings of the French and English visitors to Buonaparte’s grave—Fish—Sail from St. Helena—Island of Ascension—Frigate birds—Shark sucking a Pilot Fish—The Sargasso weed—Condition of the Crowned pigeons—A swallow captured during migration—Temperature—Arrival at Gravesend.
Tomb of Napoleon—The willows—Contrasted feelings of the French and English visitors to Buonaparte’s grave—Fish—Sail from St. Helena—Island of Ascension—Frigate birds—Shark sucking a Pilot Fish—The Sargasso weed—Condition of the Crowned pigeons—A swallow captured during migration—Temperature—Arrival at Gravesend.
The day of our arrival we visited the place of repose of the mortal remains of Napoleon. The rising road towards Longwood was cut on the surface of a lofty, barren hill, gradually ascending as we advanced, which afforded a sterile view, varied by a few scattered shrubs of Cactus, Furze-bushes, and Frocoides, bestowing some animation by their blossoms to the arid soil, which barely seemed capable of affording them nourishment. The varying view of the town and shipping on the ascent, formed a picturesque scene, and gave some interest to the monotonouscharacter of the country. On advancing, the distant view of a cascade, which falls into a small stream over a fresh-looking green sward, and which supplies the shipping with that necessary article of life, is a pleasing sight, the water being conveyed to the landing-place at the town by means of iron pipes.
The Briars is passed on the right, but much altered in appearance since it was honoured by being the temporary residence of the Corsican. There are some plantations of mulberry-trees at this place, for the purpose of introducing the cultivation of silk on the island; but which, I should suppose, will never succeed to any extent.
Before reaching the grave, the eye is charmed by the deep glens, plantations, and neat houses. The furze-bushes with their yellow blossoms, the bramble, and other European plants, reminded the voyager of home and all its endearing charms. The hedges of the aloe, with its high stem surmounted by clusters of flowers, together with the carolling of the numerous birds from all countries, which had been introduced and set at liberty on the island, increased the delight which had been already experienced.[82]Thepheasant and partridge have also been introduced, and thrive well. At last, on arriving at a more level road, the beautiful fertile vale was seen, descending from Huyt’s Gate, but becoming, as it advances towards the sea, a series of deep, rugged and romantic ravines, destitute of any vegetation, and varied by the different tints afforded by the volcanic strata.
The grave of Napoleon, when descried from the height above, has a pleasing aspect, and the view of it from that situation is very picturesque. A pathway leads to the place; and by a gradual descent the visitor arrives at the tomb of Napoleon, overshadowed by the weeping willows. About the spot are gay hedges, brilliant with the blossoms of the scarlet geraniums, the flowers of a prettyAlthæa, of a straw colour, and others. The green-sward around the tomb gives a freshness and beauty to this spot, consecrated by the late ruler of thousands, who now reposes in the solemn stillness of death, under the shade of his chosen, mournful, but fast-perishing trees.
The willows show evident symptoms of age. They seem to be getting more and more thin of branches. Since a visit I made to this spot, inFebruary, 1831, another of the trees has perished, although the trunk still remains erect in its place. Thus, of five trees (the original number) only three now remain: their age is about thirty-five years; they were planted by Mr. Tarbut, a resident at St. Helena, and former possessor of the spot we were now visiting. A number of slips from the old trees have been planted on the opposite side of the grave, and being in a flourishing condition[83]on the death of the old trees, the stock will be perpetuated by the young ones. There are also several cypresses planted in the inclosure, with every appearance of becoming handsome trees.
On entering a wicket-gate, a short path leads to a paling, inclosing a green lawn, in which, surrounded by a plain cast-iron railing, is the vault in which the body of Napoleon, arrayed in full uniform, is deposited, inclosed in four coffins. The vault is extensive, and covered by three plain Portland stones taken from the kitchen of the new house at Longwood,[84]and cementedtogether. An order from the town-major enables strangers to enter the inclosure, procure slips of the willow, and, one of the cast-iron railings surrounding the vault being broken, either accidentally or on purpose, the attendant will permit visitors to enter and tread over him now dead, who, when living, trod on the necks of monarchs.
Should there be visitors of both the French and English nations at the sepulchre of Napoleon, it is interesting to observe the feelings produced in the minds of both: the first regarding the spot as both sacred and classic, by the presence of the mortal remains of one, the former ruler of their nation, and who, under the revolutionary flag, had gained so many laurels, which it was his fate to lose at Waterloo, against an allied army. He then found himself a voluntary prisoner, on board one of those British ships of war, which had, under the proud banner of Britain, cleared the ocean of his ships, and he at last died an exile on the rock of St. Helena. This affords a fine lesson to posterity, of a great genius, who having elevated himself to be the ruler of a powerful nation, fell, and died in captivity, through his over-ambition. The French shed tears on visiting the grave of their beloved emperor; and the album, kept at the tomb for thereception of the names and tributary effusions of the visitors gives ample evidence of the feelings which a visit to this spot produces in their minds, and displays the characteristic fervor of the nation.[85]
Such may be the feelings of the former; but the majority of the English display a recklessness of manner, or mere feelings of common curiosity, on visiting a place so interesting. No one ought to visit this spot without reflecting on the life of him, whose sceptre fell from his grasp, and left him to live and die an exile, attended only by a faithful few,—all they asked was
——“To divideEvery peril he must brave;Sharing by the hero’s sideHis fall, his exile, and his grave.”
——“To divideEvery peril he must brave;Sharing by the hero’s sideHis fall, his exile, and his grave.”
——“To divideEvery peril he must brave;Sharing by the hero’s sideHis fall, his exile, and his grave.”
——“To divide
Every peril he must brave;
Sharing by the hero’s side
His fall, his exile, and his grave.”
Close to the grave is the clear spring whence the water for his use was procured, and on once visiting the spot, he selected it as his resting-place,should he die upon the island; a foreboding realized not a very long time after.
On returning from our visit to the tomb, and dining, we took a walk about the town, and entered the small garden, kept in very neat order, dignified by the name of Botanic Garden; it affords a cool and agreeable promenade, but contains nothing to excite the attention of any one who had previously visited India.[86]
News having arrived at the island, of its having been changed from the Honourable the East India Company’s to the King’s government, much speculation has been excited in consequence both among the Company’s officers and residents. As may be expected, on such a subject, there is a great variety of opinions: the inhabitants enjoy their own notions, none of which will probably ever be realized. They are daily in expectation of news from England on the subject, to relieve them from suspense.
Fish is very abundant, and not confined, as I formerly supposed, to albicore, mackarel, boneto, and flying-fish; but they have a great number of species, (it has been stated amounting to even so many as a hundred and twenty,) consisting ofbream, perch, &c.; and many I tasted, were of very excellent and delicate flavour.
On the afternoon of the following day, (25th,) we sailed from St. Helena, and experienced between that island and Ascension a light trade-wind, which would occasionally freshen for a short period. Early on the morning of the 4th of March, theIsland of Ascensionwas seen, bearing north-west-half-west, by compass distant about twenty-five miles.[87]Our course was steered, so as to pass close to the settlement. The appearance of the island is sterile in the extreme, seeming only calculated for the habitation of the numerous oceanic birds which hovered about the ship in great numbers. Volcanic rocks, in rugged and mis-shapen masses, terminating in abrupt precipices, or shelving declivities, form the principal feature of the island. And when the clouds which enveloped the Green Mountain passed away, its verdant character contrasted in a very beautiful manner with the sterile rocks and mountains, red with thetufa, or volcanic ash, beneath. Some little white habitations, perched on the ledgeof one part of the lofty eminence, and distinctly seen from the ship, had a very pretty and pleasing effect, as a bright sun diffused its rays over the scene, which for some time remained clear from even a passing cloud.
A number of gannets were busily engaged in fishing, and, from the shoals of flying-fish about, must have enjoyed excellent sport. The frigate birds, (Trachypetes aquila, Vieill.) on the contrary, hovered over the vessel, viewing with curiosity the expanded sails and progressive motion of the ship, “walking the waters like a thing of life,” regarding it, with their usual indolence and aristocracy of manner, instead of fishing like the other industrious birds about them. From all the frigate-birds having white abdomens, and being deficient in the red pouch, I presume they were females. The bills of the whole of those about the ship were of a dirty white colour, although described in several works of natural history as red.
On a former voyage, a female of the man-of-war hawk (Trachypetes aquila) was shot off this island from the deck of the ship, from the numbers which hovered over the vessel. The bird, when struck by the shot, made for the land; but soon after, as if feeling that it would be unable to reach it, returned, with a wavering flight,towards the ship, and we felt confident that she would come on board; approaching the ship, her flight became lower and more unsteady, until she fell dead into the water, quite close to the ship, near the mizen chains, just as we were in expectation that she would have fallen upon the poop.
Numerous sea-swallows (Sterna hirundo, Linn.) and brown boobies flew about the ship as we approached nearer the land; the former fishing in groups. After the toil of the day, they return in small flocks to the island, usually about the close of the evening, (as well as the gannets and other birds that do not wander far from the land,) reposing and breeding among the ledges of the huge masses of sterile volcanic rocks.[88]
The frigate birds, (or sea-hawks, as they are also named,) are seldom or never seen far distant from land: the male birds are black, and have a red pouch; the females have a white breast, and are destitute of the pouch. In procuring fish for their food, these birds prefer seizing it from the boobies and gannets, instead of catching it themselves.To attain this object, the sea-hawk hovers above the gannet, (which is the bird most usually selected for attack,) and, darting rapidly down, strikes him on the back of the head, causing him to disgorge his prey, which is seized by the hawk with an inconceivable rapidity before it reaches the water, and afterwards soars aloft to look out for another object of attack. It is not an uncommon circumstance to observe a single gannet selected from a flock, and come out to be the subject of attack, as if he had been called by the hawk in preference to the others. The gannet, however, manœuvres to avoid the blow, by darting about, lowering himself from his elevation in the air at every dart, and, raising his beak in a perpendicular direction; by these means it eludes the blow of the hawk from behind, and they frequently both fall into the water together; the hawk only having the advantage over the gannet when hovering in the air, the latter escapes. At the Island of Ascension, where these birds are common, I was informed by Lieutenant M’Arthur, (Marine Artillery,) that the method practised by the hawks to oblige the gannet to disgorge their prey, was tried by a gentleman who lately visited the island: he had seen the attack of the hawk on the gannet, and the successful result. When he visited the part of the island named “TheFair,” where these birds congregate in great numbers, he struck some of them with a cane on the back of the head, and the disgorgement of the fish they had swallowed immediately took place.
By threeP.M.we were off the settlement, in the roadstead of which an American ship, and several British men-of-war, were lying at anchor. We did not enter the roadstead, but, hoisting our ensign and number, proceeded on our voyage, and by the evening left the island far in the distance.
Having on a former voyage, in 1831, visited and landed upon this island, I perhaps may be excused for introducing the following account, from observations made at that period:—
About noon (of the 10th of February, 1831) we were off the settlement situated on the north-west side of the island, and several neatly-constructed houses appeared enlivening a little the barren scene around. A transport (St. Croix) was at anchor in the roads, having just arrived with stores; a boat came off from the settlement, with a book, in which the ship’s name, &c. was inserted. I accompanied the commander on a visit to the shore: the landing is sometimes dangerous, on account of the surf; at this time it was very easily effected. The landing-place was on a flight of steps, at the extremity of awharf; a small crane was near, to assist boats in approaching, and persons in landing. A delightful trade breeze rendered the air cool, which would otherwise have been intolerable, on account of the reflection of the sun from the sand and lava. The residences of the garrison, store-houses, &c., were neat constructions, and had been lately completed: many other buildings were in progress. The island has now been fortified at every part considered accessible; these points being few, however, not many batteries were required. The establishment consists of marines and marine artillery, (about four hundred,) under a commandant, Captain Bates. The privates are masons, carpenters, quarrymen, &c.; the houses are constructed by them, and, in fact, they undertake all the laborious work. This island is considered of great importance, being directly in the track of our homeward-bound shipping from the East Indies, &c., and would, in the event of a war, have afforded a rendezvous for the enemy’s cruizers.
I was informed that excellent soil was found under the lava, at a depth of two feet: cultivation of vegetables, &c. is at present confined to the green mountain; the present object of fortifying and erecting buildings on the island being completed, cultivation will be more attended to.The beach, at first thought to be composed of sand, was found to consist of very small fragments of shells: in some places they had become (from some cause not readily accounted for) firmly compacted together. These slabs were formed of several layers, of which the size of the fragments differs in each layer: they are used for tomb-stones, steps of doors, and are broken and burned for lime. Of the vegetable kingdom, a species of Euphorbia only was growing, distributed in small tufts, but not very abundantly, about the rugged lava; it was at this time in flower: this simple plant was, indeed, a beautiful object amidst such barren scenes. There are three species of butterflies on the island, of handsome colours.
A great acquisition to the island has been a good supply of water: a shaft had just been sunk upon one of the mountains, and several tons of water had been raised daily. The only inconvenience is their being obliged to bring the water down by casks in carts; but iron pipes, from England, are now being laid down, to convey the water to the wharf, and the shipping will be supplied by means of hoses. Moorings are laid down in the roadstead. The turtle-ponds were well stocked with turtles of large size, varying from two to eight hundred weight each: the price fixed, was fifty shillings each. We werepolitely invited, and dined with the officers at their mess. At a place called “The Fair,” the birds named sea-swallows, as well as numerous other aquatic birds, congregate; and the eggs of the sea-swallows, which are of a dirty white, with dark red spots, and about the size of crows’ eggs, are there collected at certain seasons of the year, in thousands: several of these were given to us, and found delicate and excellent eating. It was dark before we went off to the ship, and a heavy surf rendered the embarkation very dangerous: no boats should attempt going off after dark. A marine, named James, who was a little intoxicated, fell into the water, and, being overpowered by the violence of the surf and the eddy, perished. After some difficulty, we all re-embarked, and, getting safely on board, resumed our voyage.
The island is considered generally healthy, dysentery being the only disease experienced; and the temperature of the air pleasant, being seldom higher in the shade than 83°, the constant trade-breeze tending to keep the atmosphere temperate. Merchant-ships, in distress for supplies, may here obtain them, the only extra charge made by the government being the freight from England. Fish can be procured in some quantity, and a kind of conger eel, procured at this island, had,when brought to the table, the bones of a lilac colour.
We experienced a very light south-east trade-wind for almost its whole limit, and lost it in lat. 00° 36′ north, and lon. 20° 40′ west. We afterwards experienced calms and light airs, with but little rain. On the 13th of March, in lat. 1° 23′ north, and lon. 22° 15′ west, several sail were in sight, steering to the southward; and about twoP.M.we spoke the barque, Lord of the Isles, last from Falmouth, bound to Calcutta: she left Falmouth the 7th of February. A boat was sent from the barque, bringing letters for conveyance to England, and newspapers of December and January, which afforded us some knowledge of how the world was going on.
Sharks, accompanied by pilot-fish, and having several of the Remora, or sucking-fish, attached to them, were occasionally about the ship during the calm weather.
Sharks are formidable from their muscular strength and the numerous rows of teeth with which their expansive and powerful jaws are armed: they may be considered as the most destructive and voracious of all the inhabitants of the deep. Their stomachs, which are of enormous capacity, are generally found filled with a mixed collection of substances, some of whichseem calculated to try the strength of their digestive powers. It does not appear that their sense of smell always guides them in procuring food, as paper, canvas, or indeed any thing thrown overboard which they are capable of swallowing, is greedily devoured by them. To decide correctly on thehabitat, or extent of range, taken by any particular species, is difficult, and requires a numerous collection of facts. Frequent mistakes are made in this respect; as in the instance of theSqualus cornubicus, or porbeagle shark, whosehabitatwas supposed to be confined to the British coasts, but which I have since discovered has been found, although rarely, inhabiting the coasts of New Zealand.
The teeth of sharks vary in different species. Blumenbach observes, that “in most of the sharks the mouth is furnished with very numerous teeth, for the supply of such as may be lost. The white shark has more than two hundred, lying on each other in rows, almost like the leaves of an artichoke. Those only which form the front row have a perpendicular direction, and are completely uncovered. Those of the subsequent rows are, on the contrary, smaller, have their points turned backwards, and are covered by a kind of gum. These come through the covering substance, and pass forward, whenany teeth of the front row are lost. It will be understood, from this description, that the teeth in question cannot have any fangs.”[89]
The shark, no doubt, sheds its teeth at certain periods, and the posterior rows are to supply, in succession, the places of those so lost, as, in a number of jaws that I have examined of different species, the second row may frequently be seen in a perpendicular direction, advancing to supply the place of the first. With respect to such teeth having fangs, those of most species have merely rudiments of them, excepting the squalus cornubicus, or porbeagle shark, which has two distinct fangs to every tooth, and they may be seen in the second and third, as well as in the first rows. The posterior rows having their points turned backwards, prevent their prey, when seized, from escaping. The teeth of the shark are used by the Polynesian natives, fixed in rows, as knives. They are attached also to their spears, are used for cutting themselves on occasions of joy or grief, and were employed, previously to the introduction of European knives, for the ornamental carving of their weapons, domestic utensils, &c.
There is a species of shark at New Zealandwhich I have heard named, by seamen, theground shark: the teeth procured from this species differ from all others that I have seen; they are long, rather curved inwards, flattened anteriorly, sharp pointed,unserrated at the edges, and havetwo rather long fangs. They are considered rare at New Zealand, and the teeth are highly valued by the natives, who wear them, with a hole bored through them, as appendages to their ears; they carve their green jasper stone also in the form of these teeth, and wear them in a similar manner: these teeth were so highly prized by the natives, that to procure one was a matter of difficulty. I for some time, since my return to England, endeavoured to ascertain the species to which these teeth belonged, but I was unsuccessful, until lately examining the jaws of the various species of sharks in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, in London, I found it to be theSqualus cornubicus, or porbeagle shark, which is thus noticed in the published catalogue of the college:—
“No. 1832.—The skull, and part of the spine, of a small Porbeagle shark. Squalus cornubicus. Fig. Borlase’s History of Cornwall. Habitat. The British seas.”
This species, from its magnitude when full grown, has sometimes been confounded with thesqualus carcharias, or white shark.—Presented by Dr. Leach, 1820.
The fore-teeth, near the symphysis, accorded in every respect with the New Zealand specimens; more posterior they became equilateral, but were all unserrated at their edges.
The capture of one of these voracious animals frequently beguiles a tedious hour during a long voyage. Its struggles, when brought on deck, are very great, but a few severe blows on the nose soon disable it from further exertion. When seizing any object, the animal turns on the side, not (as is generally supposed) on the back. The shark, judging by an European palate, is not good eating: the fins and tail are very glutinous, and are the portions most relished by the seamen; when dried, they form an article of commerce to China, where they are used in soups, and considered as an excellent aphrodisiac. I have seen several sharks and bonitos about the ship at the same time, but I never observed the former attempt to molest the latter. The shark is eaten eagerly by the natives of the Polynesian Islands, and I have often seen them feasting on it in a raw state, when they gorge themselves to such an excess as to occasion vomiting. It is not an unfrequent source of illness among these islanders, and they suffer so much in consequence,as to lead them to suppose that their dissolution is nigh; but they cannot be persuaded that the eating of raw fish is the cause. An emetic soon removes the symptoms, by removing the cause; and the sufferer considers the cure as almost miraculous.
Attending the shark, is seen that beautiful little fish, theGasterosteus ductor, orpilot-fish; which first approaching the bait, returns as if to give notice, when, immediately after, the shark approaches and seizes it.[90]It is a curious circumstance that this elegant little fish is seen in attendance only upon the shark. After the shark is hooked, the pilot-fish still swim about, and for some time after he has been hauled on deck; they then swim very near the surface of the water, and at that time I have seen them taken by a basket from the chains of the ship. When the shark has been hooked and afterwards escapes, he generally returns, and renews the attack with increased ferocity, irritated perhaps by the wound he has received.
On the 18th of March, 1831, during my former voyage, in lat. 44° 56′ north, and long. 25° 10′ west; in the evening, two sharks of a very large size were seen at a short distance from the ship. A high dorsal fin, projecting from the water, was at first only discernible, and had a resemblance to a rock.[91]It was at first stationary, but soon began to move steadily along, and then occasionally the tail could be seen partially above the water. I know not to what species to refer it; one of the crew on board, who had been in a whaler, said that it was what they named a “bone shark” which is seen in numbers alongside the ships when they are cutting up a whale. He said, also, that he had seen them as large as atwenty-barrel whale; that “the mouth resembled the gill of a fish, and they are spotted over the back.” Whether the latter part of this account accorded with the actual appearance of the fish, I was not sufficiently near to ascertain, but it appeared correct with respect to its large size.
The natives of the Polynesian islands havesuch a dread of sharks as to worship some of them as gods; not from any respect or love towards them, but from fear. Ellis states, that, “although they would not only kill, but eat certain kinds of shark, the large blue sharks (Squalus glaucus) were deified by them; and, rather than attempt to destroy them, they would endeavour to propitiate their favour by prayers and offerings. Temples were erected, in which priests officiated, and offerings were presented to the deified monsters; while fishermen, and others who were much at sea, sought their favour. Many ludicrous legends were formerly in circulation among the people, relative to the regard paid by the sharks at sea to priests of their temples, whom they were always said to recognize, and never to injure. The principal motive, however, by which the people appear to have been influenced in their homage of these creatures, was the same that operated on their minds in reference to other acts of idolatry: it was the principle of fear, and a desire to avoid destruction in the event of being exposed to their anger at sea.”[92]
In olden times sharks were considered to be allied to the Leviathans of the deep, and afforded then, as at the present day, amusement to passengers traversing the ocean. The following account of the capture of one of these voracious animals, from Dr. Fryer’s “New Account of India and Persia,” published in 1698, is amusing:—
“Two of thelesser offspring of the great Leviathan(the weather being calm, these sort of them else not visible, being of no swift motion) came sailing after us; our men, as eager of them as they of their prey, hastened their engines for to take them; which no sooner in the water but each of them, guided by some half-a-dozen delicately-coloured little fishes, which, for their own safeguard, perform the office of pilots, (they never offering to satisfy their hunger on them,) who lead them to the baits; when they, turning their bellies up, seize upon them on their backs, hook themselves in the toils, beating the sea into a breach, and not without a great many hands are drawn over the sides of the ship;which seen by the poor silly little fishes, (as conscious of their error,) they swim to and again, and hardly forsake the ship; but being within board, the ship’s company, armed with hatchets, presently divide the spoil. They are not scaly, and therefore imagined to be a kind of whale, being finned like them, with a great fin on their backs, near their tails, (which dried, is used instead of a slate,) of a darkish-grey colour on their backs, lighter on their sides, and white under their bellies; their snout on the same plain with their mouths, but their mouth within that a great way; the cause why they turn their bellies when they take their prey. The mouth of one of them extended, is two spans wide, armed within with three tier of sharp-pointed teeth on both jaws, so piercing that needles exceed them not, and of such strength that a leg or an arm, bone and all, is but an easy morsel; wherefore calledsharksby the seamen, on whom they are bold enough to fasten and dismember, if not shunned, when they wash themselves. They are of a rank smell, and not good to eat but by stout stomachs; of length they are ten, sometimes fourteen feet.”
I shall now make a few observations on muscular irritability, as exemplified by the shark. That which is termed muscular irritability,and which is met with to a great degree in all cold-blooded animals, is well exemplified in the shark, which perhaps possesses it to a greater degree than other kinds of fish. I have seen a shark transfixed with a harpoon after it had been hooked, so as to cause the viscera to protrude; it was hoisted on deck, when, after a quarter of an hour had elapsed, the lower part was separated from the upper; (which detached lower portion for a long time displayed great powers of vitality;) the head and upper portion were afterwards thrown into the water, when the pectoral fins were moved as in the action of swimming. How long this irritability continued I cannot say, (but from other instances that I had seen, I should consider for a long period,) as it soon went astern of the ship. I have frequently seen the animal hauled on deck, the whole of the viscera extracted, and the body otherwise mangled when thrown overboard, swim for some distance in this mutilated state. Again, a shark has been hung up with the abdomen ripped open, the whole of the viscera extracted, and the head detached; yet symptoms of vitality, or rather muscular irritability, remained for three hours from the time of its removal from the water; and this frequently occasions the spectators to consider that the animal is in astate of suffering. It is only in the cold-blooded animals that we meet with it to such an extent; in the warm-blooded animals it occurs, but in a very slight degree.
Blumenbach, in his Manual of Natural History, thus mentions the reproductive power and independent vitality with reference to the Amphibia:—“The extraordinary strength of the reproductive power in several Amphibia, and the astonishing facility with which the process is carried on, depend, if I mistake not, on the great magnitude of their nerves and the diminutive proportion of their brain. The former parts are, in consequence, less dependent on the latter; hence the whole machine has less powers of motion, and displays less sympathy; the mode of existence is more simple, and approaches more nearly to that of the vegetable world than in the warm-blooded classes; but, on the contrary, the parts possess a greater individual independent vitality. Since, in consequence of this latter endowment, stimuli which operate on one part, or one system, do not immediately affect the whole frame by sympathy, as in warm-blooded animals, we are enabled to explain the peculiar tenacity of life which is displayed under various circumstances in this class—viz. frogs still continue to jumpabout after their heart has been torn out, and turtles have lived for months after the removal of the whole brain from the cranium. The long-continued power of motion in parts which have been cut off from the body, as in the tail of the water-newt and blind-worm, may be explained upon the same principles.”
The length of time that this irritability exists in snakes, has given rise to the opinion of the vulgar, that “if a snake is killed in the morning, it will not die before sunset.” Among numerous instances of irritability in the warm-blooded class, shortly after death the heart may be stimulated to perform its natural action, by being punctured; and in a limb after amputation, the muscles are excited to contract by a scalpel being plunged into them.
The sucking-fish is commonly found adhering to the body of the shark. It is placed, by Cuvier, among the third order of fishes, or theMalacoptérygiens subbrachiens, which is characterized “Par des ventrales attachées sous les pectorales, et dont le bassin est immédiatement suspendu aux os de l’épaule.” Its generic character is as follows:—Head furnished above with a flat, ovate, transversely sulcated shield. Gill membrane six-rayed. Body without scales.
When first removed from the water, thecolour of the fish of the common species was an uniform grey or lavender, which soon changed to a brownish colour; the tail was forked, or rather crescent-shaped. The sucking-plate, of an oval form, was situated on the upper part of the head, and was composed of seventeen transverse moveable cartilaginous plates, (but they vary in number, according to the size of the fish,) each armed with minute teeth directed backwards; from which cause it was difficult to detach the animal in a direction perpendicular or backwards, but it was removed with facility when drawn off in the direction of the head.
On inspecting the mouth I observed two rows of teeth situated on the margin of each jaw, one internal to the other, the outer row being larger and stronger than the inner; and it is probable that the inner row is intended, as in the shark, to replace the front row, when lost from time or accident. On the palate were also placed two rows of very fine teeth, and the other parts of the mouth were rough. I made several dried preparations of the head of this fish, which well displayed the form of the disk; and, by keeping the mouth distended, the rows of teeth could be distinctly seen and examined.
The fins are, two pectoral, two ventral, one dorsal, and one anal; the whole of which are ofsmall size, in proportion to the body of the fish, as well as the tail. The disproportion of the size of the head, and the diminutive size of the fins and tail, must consequently prevent its swimming to any distance, for when swimming its motion is very tardy, and apparently laborious. Nature has, therefore, provided it with a means of attaching itself to rocks, the bottoms of ships, &c.
I have seen them attached more commonly to the body of theSqualus carcharias, or white shark, than to any other species: whether it is that this species of shark is the most usually met with, I cannot determine; but on a blue shark, although accompanied by pilot-fish, I never, in the few instances I have met with, saw a Remora attached, although, in the other species, I have always seen some attached: if this, on further observation, is found to be the fact, it may be probably accounted for by theSqualus carchariasmore frequently approaching the land. The sucking-fish not being able to swim any distance, must generally remain attached to rocks, &c., and from them removes itself to the shark as he approaches.
The sucking-plate enables these fish to change their locality, by attaching themselves to the stronger inhabitants of the deep, and precludes,as on the rocks, the danger of their being driven by tempests remote from their usual food and rest. This fish is also destitute of an air-bladder.
The Remora was supposed, by the ancients, to have the power of arresting the progress of a ship under full sail; and, by others, their nourishment was supposed to be derived from the body of the shark, or from any substance to which it adhered: all these chimeras have, however, been long since dispersed. Their food has been found (from the examination of the contents of the stomachs of the specimens captured) to be minute marine insects, &c.
I have seen the Remora of a very large size. During a visit to the island of Tongatabu, one of the Friendly group, on August 1st, 1829, several were brought on board for sale, by the natives, which measured three feet and upwards in length. They had taken them with a hook and line. They were cooked, and found delicate and well-tasted. During also our passage through the straits of St. Bernardin to Manilla, several, of a large size, were seen swimming about the ship, but their movements were slow and heavy.
The most usual size taken from the body of a shark, is from six to twelve inches. The IndianRemora is said to be found of the length of two or three feet; and even, according to a description quoted by Dr. Bloch, to extend to seven feet. The usual number of divisions on its shield is from twenty-two to twenty-four.
The power of adhesion is retained for a long time, by this fish, after decapitation. I detached one of them from the body of a shark, decapitated it, and then applying the sucking-plate to a smooth surface, found the power of adhesion remained, and it continued for the space of nearly twenty minutes. The body of the animal, after the removal of the head, displayed much muscular irritability on being touched, and the pectoral and ventral fins moved for a long time afterwards.
The pilot-fish, as I have before observed, (Gasterosteus ductor,) is usually seen in company with the shark, and with no other voracious fish; it is of a beautiful azure colour, girded around the body by broad bands of a very dark blue. I have seldom seen them larger than a foot in length, but in breadth some exceed others. They have never been taken when in company with the shark, but, on the capture of that voracious animal, they hoverabout him as long as he remains in the water; and a very short time after he has been hauled on board, they can sometimes be taken by a basket from the chains, as they swim at that time very superficially, and sometimes have been known (but rarely) to take bait.
On the 18th, in latitude 2° 20′ north, and longitude 25° 26′ west, we got the north-east trade, far to the northward, being north-north-east, moderate and fresh breezes,[93]and on the 7th of April, we lost the north-east trade in about 30° 31′ north, and longitude 44° 20′ west.
On the 1st of April, in latitude 23° 17′ north, and longitude 42° 50′ west, several tropic birds (Phaeton oethereus) were seen hovering over the ship; this was considered a very unusual circumstance, from the distance we then were from land. The longest distance these birds have been seenfrom land, has been stated to be three hundred miles, but by the observations at noon we were distant full one thousand miles from land; the nearest being the northernmost island of the Cape de Verd group. The distance at which birds supposed not to wander far from land, are sometimes seen, is surprising. Penguins have occasionally been met with several hundred miles from land, although they are commonly supposed not to wander from it any considerable distance. An intelligent lady informed me, that, during a voyage from England to Batavia, in the ship Orynthia, between the Cape and the latter place, a Penguin was shot, being rather more than a foot in length, and of a smooth slate colour over the body, with a white breast, (as well as can be recollected at a distant period,) the ship being then at a distance of eight hundred miles from the Marion or Crozette islands, with fine weather, nearly calm at the time. This occurred on the 22nd of October, 1831.
Captain Beechey also states, (Voyage to the Pacific and Beering’s Strait, 8vo. vol. i. p. 16,) which tends to confirm the above fact, that, “as we approached the Falkland Islands from Rio Janeiro, some Penguins were seen upon the water in latitude 47° south, at a distance of three hundred and forty miles from the nearest land; afact which either proves the common opinion that this species never stray far from land to be in error, or that some unknown land exists in the vicinity.”
On the 31st of March, in latitude 22° north, and longitude 41° west, the Sargasso weed was first seen, a few pieces occasionally floating by the ship. That these plants are produced within the tropics, there can hardly be a question; but at what depth they vegetate is still involved in obscurity: neither is it clearly ascertained why the banks of weed should always occur in the same places. The supposition that they proceed with the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico—whence the original name of gulf weed—is now exploded. This weed is considered to extend between the eighteenth and twenty-second parallels of north latitude, and the twenty-fifth and fortieth meridians of west longitude.
Mr. Neill justly observes, that “the gulf stream would convey them rather to the banks of Newfoundland than to the latitudes in which they usually occur; and it could not in any case accumulate them to the south of the Azores.”[94]
Horsburgh, in his Directory, mentions the range of the weed, as being first seen in latitude 24° or 25° north, and extending as far as latitude 40° or 42° north, but I regard the limits of its range as depending much on the prevailing winds blowing strong for some time in a particular direction. On the 3rd of March, 1831, I first saw the weed in latitude 20° 12′ north, longitude 35° 39′ west. In latitude 24° 16′ north, and longitude 36° 55′ west, large quantities of it were passed, and in latitude 37° 53′ north, and longitude 35° 32′ west, we left it.
During this voyage it was first observed, as I have previously mentioned, on the 31st of March, in latitude 22° north, and 41° west longitude; and was seen in large quantities nearly the whole distance. From the trade wind being much to the northward, we were driven as far to the westward as 44° 7′, still continuing to have a quantity of weed about the ship; indeed it rather increased than diminished, for large masses were seen even thus far beyond the usual limit assigned to it; on the 12th of April extending to 38° 32′ north latitude, and 34° 30′ west longitude. The utmost western limit I had an opportunity of observing it in being 44° 7′, and the range of the temperature of the atmosphere in its limits being maximum 76°, medium 70°, minimum 59°.
Of the genusSargassum[95]there are numerous species distributed over the globe; but theS. vulgare, orFucus natans, and other species, are also described as having theirhabitatin the particular range I have before mentioned; but I have not been able to find more than one species, some sprigs of which exhibit anomalies, but not specific differences; for although apparently differing in having the leaves broader, and not so serrated at the edges, yet many of these were growing from plants which had not such distinctions. According to Greville, this genus, the most extensive of theFucoideæ, comprising above seventy species, is nearly confined to the two tropics, and examples rarely occur beyond the forty-second degree in either hemisphere:—