Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/128

 Nov. 9. Wind W. by N. at 10 a.m.; weather hazy. At 5 p.m. strong gale fromE.; bore up for the harbour of Labrador; here we lay for the next 48 hours. On the 10th were strong gales from the E. On the 11th strong gales from the S.

—12. Wind N. by E., moderate ; left harbour of Labrador this day ; light breezes and clear weather.

—13. Wind N.; going along shore passed Bellisle.

—14. Wind E. by N. at noon; light airs; cloudy weather; sun obscure.

—15. Wind S. by E. at noon; sun obscure; strong gales from the S.

—16. Wind S.S.W., light airs, clear weather; saw owls to the number of about thirty or forty for the first time. Lat. 54.02 ; long. 47.40 ; about 250 miles from the straits of Bellisle.

—17. Wind S.S.W., fresh breezes ; a few owls alighted on masts ; two captured this evening about 7 o'clock. Lat. 54.20; long. 46.20; about 375 miles from Bellisle.

—18. Wind S.W. ; strong breezes and heavy sea from the E. ; great numbers of owls, about fifty or sixty flying about and alighting on the rigging ; cap- tured none to-day, nor did any remain on the ship this night. Lat. 54.50 ; 450 miles from Bellisle.

—19. Wind N.W., strong breezes and cloudy weather ; squally with snow showers during the day ; captured two more owls to-night. Lat. 54.51 ; long. 37.39 ; about 635 miles from Bellisle.

—20. Wind N. by E., heavy gales with a tremendous sea running; saw several owls, but none were caught. Lat. 54.50 ; long. 33.10.

—21. Wind N.E. at 2 p.m. ; E. by S. at 4 p.m. ; light breezes and cloudy weather; saw a gannet and curlew. Lat. 54.25 ; long. 31.40 ; about 740 miles from Bellisle.

—22. Wind S.E. by S., light breezes ; no owls seen these two days past, nor were any afterwards met with.

Dec. 4. Vessel arrived at Belfast.

The captain describes the migration of these owls to have been an extremely beautiful sight, and from his never having seen such birds before, he was greatly interested about them. Sometimes they kept flying near the vessel without alighting, and again there would be one or two on every yard arm, with others hovering just above : on alighting, they fell asleep, apparently from exhaustion. Numerous as were these beautiful creatures, it was only when occasional bickerings took place among those which had alighted on the yard-arms, and in the stillness of night, that they were heard during their entire presence. Their flight, described as in- audible, could not but call to mind the finest and most poetical description of this characteristic trait applied to the owls generally :