“Flung from the rock on ocean’s foam to sail,Where’er the surge may sweep, the tempests breath prevail;”
“Flung from the rock on ocean’s foam to sail,Where’er the surge may sweep, the tempests breath prevail;”
“Flung from the rock on ocean’s foam to sail,Where’er the surge may sweep, the tempests breath prevail;”
“Flung from the rock on ocean’s foam to sail,
Where’er the surge may sweep, the tempests breath prevail;”
will only now be partly applicable to this weed, as it is tolerably well ascertained to vegetate floating on the water, each sprig becoming, as detached by the violence of the waves, the contact of ships, or other causes, a perfect and large plant.[96]
This species of theSargassum, found in such immense quantities, floating upon the surface of the ocean, is of a fine yellow colour, lighter or deeper in tint, being when very young of a greenish yellow colour; it is very buoyant, occasioned both by its lightness of structure and body of water to support it, as well as by the number of air vesicles with which it is profusely covered; it has a handsome appearance when seen spread out and swimming on the surface, or when just taken out of the water. On drying, it first retains the yellow, or greenish yellow, afterwards becoming of a reddish brown colour, but turning black, if exposed to the atmosphere when drying. The leaves are long, narrow, scattered, serrated at the edges in an irregular manner; the stems are studded with numerous air-vesicles in different stages of growth, spherical, and attached by a short pedicle to the stem. In many instances a young leaf would be seen emerging from the air-vesicle, and in others many of the leaves would have the air-vesicle (instead of being, as usual, on the stems) at the summit, forming a rounded termination to the leaf; some of the vesicles would have a longer and broader pedicle than usual, which assumed the character of an embryo leaf just forming, similar to what has been just mentioned asoccurring.[97]All the weed was more or less profusely covered with parasiticalconfervæ, displaying much delicacy and beauty.
I succeeded in capturing with the weed numerous specimens of small crabs, and some even of large size, small nereis, together with various specimens of fish, theSyngnathus, or pipe-fish, &c. TheScyllea pelagicawas also abundant, clinging to the plants; and also numerous small sepiæ of a beautiful purplish colour.
In support of the opinion that the attachment of the fuci to rocks is not absolutely necessary for their nourishment, it has been observed of the fucus nodosus, that “this and some other fuci have no dependence on their root for nourishment, and therefore, instead of being ramified, it is merely a disc or button, by the adhesion of which, assisted, perhaps, by atmospherical pressure, the weed keeps an uncommonly firm hold of the rock to which it is attached.” The air vesicles on a plant of course render it more buoyant than those destitute of them. I have found, that detaching the air vesicles from a plant, and placing it inshallow water, it sunk, but where the depth of water was great, the bulk of water was in itself sufficient to keep the weed afloat; the use of the air vesicles is most probably intended for the purpose of bringing some portion of the plant in contact with atmospheric air, or by keeping the plant to the surface of the water, to receive a greater benefit from air and light, or to prevent the young shoots or other parts of the plant being injured by the violent action of the waves. We find in the fucus buccinalis, or trumpet weed of the Cape, that stem is hollow, accommodating itself in length to the depth of water in which it grows; is attached to the ground by ramified roots; the stem terminating in a crown of broad leaves expanded on the surface of the water, and kept in that situation by a broad air bladder, in which the stem terminates under the crown; it may aid the plant also in maintaining itself against the force of the waves in the exposed situations in which it is usually found.
Air-bladders are not confined to sea weeds; several plants growing in fresh water are similarly provided. Of these, theJussiæa tenella, found in the rivers of Amboyna, is a remarkable example. Along its stalk are many large oval tubercles, full of air, and each of these is compounded ofmany others, so that the injury which the plant might sustain from foreign bodies striking against it and breaking the bladders, is obviated.[98]
On the 8th of April we were in latitude 31° 34′ north, longitude 41° 27′ west. It has been remarked, during the time the Crowned pigeons have been on board the ship, that they do not eat for five days, or a week, and then recommence eating so much, that the man attending on the poultry can hardly supply them with sufficient: they continue thus to eat for the space of a fortnight, or more, and then cease for a certain period, as I have just before observed. At first this was supposed very naturally to proceed from illness; subsequent observation, however, decided that it did not originate in such a cause. They have not now eaten for three days, the paddy placed in their trough still remaining untouched. The birds have a healthy appearance in plumage and general looks, and are in as excellent, if not better condition, than when they first came on board the ship at Singapore. Paddy is the only food given them, as they prefer it to all other kinds of grain that have been tried.
I am not aware of the differences of plumage in the males and females of these birds, but am inclined to consider these male and female birds, from one running after the other in sportive wooing, and the mournful, cooing noise, proceeding from only one of them. They are shy and timid, fluttering about very much when any one comes near, or attempts to touch them; they even show this shyness towards the man who is accustomed daily to supply them with food.
April 16th.—During the late prevailing strong breezes and gales, with damp and rainy weather, the birds have appeared well, only occasionally fluttering by the heavy lurches of the vessel: that has been prevented, for the most part, by bagging being placed underneath their feet. The range of temperature has not been lower than 55°; medium 60°, and maximum 64°.
April 18th.—The pigeons, although they have their feathers ruffled, and mope, from the change of temperature and wet weather, do not appear to suffer in health: they move often about the coop, and eat as usual.
April 23rd.—In latitude 49° 35′ north, longitude 14° 8′ west: thermometer 53° to 55°. I had the misfortune to lose another of the Crowned pigeons. Yesterday the bird seemed healthy, theeyes brilliant, and plumage unruffled; but this morning it was found dead; so sudden does death occur, without any previous indication being given, among the feathered tribe.
From the 8th to the 16th of April we had strong westerly winds and gales, coming on at first, from north-north-west, veering to south-west and south. On the 16th of April, we were in latitude 44° 34′ north, longitude 25° 00′ west.
Early on the morning of the 28th, a swallow (Hirundo rustica, Linn.) was seen flying about the ship; and, having entered one of the stern cabin windows, was readily taken. It appeared quite exhausted, and made no efforts to escape, until, having been confined for a short period of time in one of the cabins, it flew out again on the door being opened, but was soon recaptured. It is probably the straggler of a flock migrating to the northward, as they are usually considered to arrive in England in April or May, earlier or later, according to the mildness of the season.
This bird may be considered to be detained on its passage by easterly winds, similarly to ourselves. It was in an excellent plump condition, although now, no doubt, tired and hungry. The little traveller is preserved alive, and permittedto fly about one of the cabins. It became in a short time after its capture, very tame, perching on the head of the person in whose cabin it had taken refuge, eating food also from the mouth. The following morning, however, it flew away.
In the evening several of the common swallow, (Hirundo rustica, Linn.) and also, from a specimen which I caught and examined, the martin (Hirundo urbica, Linn.) were flying about the ship, occasionally seeking refuge in the cuddy: they appeared strong on the wing, in excellent plumage, and plump condition. They no doubt formed part of a flock migrating to the British shores, where the latter are said to arrive about the 16th of April; but the computation of the time of their arrival cannot be mentioned with any degree of certainty. Now their passage has probably been retarded by the long prevalence of easterly winds; and the cold, rainy weather, may have caused the little emigrants to seek refuge on board the ship. From calculation at noon, we were in north latitude 50° 14′; north and west longitude 12° 40′.
The swallow is found an inhabitant of the tropical regions of the globe, visits the northern climates during the warm months of the year, and is regarded as the harbinger of summer;emigrating, however, with its young, to a more congenial climate on the approach of winter. It is then that they are met with at sea, perching, in an exhausted condition, on the rigging and decks of ships. Being interrupted by adverse winds, they waver in their course, spent with famine and fatigue, until the ship affords them a temporary resting-place; from which, refreshed by a few hours’ rest, they renew their flight. They are said to arrive in Africa about the commencement of October, having performed their fatiguing journey in the space of seven days.
During a passage from England to New South Wales, on the 27th of September, 1828, several of these birds alighted in an exhausted condition on the rigging and deck of the ship, and were readily captured. We were at that time in latitude 13° 40′ north, and longitude 23° 20′ west. They were theHirundo rusticaof Linnæus.
These birds emigrate from one tropical country to another; and during a passage from Manilla to Singapore, through the China sea, on the 20th of October, 1830, for several days a number of these birds were flying about the ship; and I am inclined to suppose, derived at that period sustenance from the flies which infested the ship, assoon afterwards but few of those insects remained. In the evening they would roost on the rigging; and some even took refuge for the night in the chief officer’s cabin, which opened upon the deck, and were again set at liberty in the morning. They became after a few days exhausted; several were found dead, and others became so tame from fatigue and hunger, as to be easily caught, and would afterwards remain perched on the hand, without making any effort to regain their liberty. These were also of the speciesHirundo rusticaof Linnæus, which is widely distributed over the globe. We first observed them in latitude 15° 29′ north, and longitude 117° 40′ east; and we lost them, most having perished, in latitude 9° 30′ north, longitude 110° 45′ east, having been about the ship for thirteen days.
The question that arises is, whether in the latter instances they were emigrating, or had been blown off the land by the westerly gales we had experienced since leaving Manilla Bay. It may be mentioned, that as we had at the same time numerous other land birds about the ship, the latter supposition is not improbable.
After having been detained for several days by easterly winds, on the 29th of April we had fairbreezes,—the swallows then departed, perhaps as glad as ourselves at having some chance of terminating a long voyage. We made the Scilly Islands on the 30th, and arrived at Gravesend on the 5th of May, 1834.