Notes from a journal of research into the natural history of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang [from vol. II of Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, by Sir E. Belcher issued with new t.p.] under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher.
- Date:
- 1848
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Notes from a journal of research into the natural history of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang [from vol. II of Narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, by Sir E. Belcher issued with new t.p.] under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![The species differ in their modes of flight; the Giant Petrel {Procellario giganted) flies in a wild and sweeping manner, poising himself, and often remaining motionless in the air like an Eagle. The flight of the Cape Pigeon (P. Capensis) is erratic, and neither powerful nor rapid. There is one species as large as a Kestrel, and entirely of a sooty black; it has long powerful wings, and a rapid steady flight, like the wide sweep of some gigantic Swift; these hunt in couples, and are very wild and shy. Another, called the “ Whale-birdby the seamen, is solitary in his habits, and his sweep across the ocean is more extensive than that of other species. This, as weU as P. tmtuT and Forsteri, describe vast circles in the air, and dart suddenly on their prey. Another wild and sprightly species is not much larger than a Lark; erratic, wavering, and rapid in its flight, it always keeps aloof from the ship, and, even more than any of the others, appears to delight in stormy weather. During our passage the sailors were fortunate enough to catch some Dolphins, and, although the beauties of this fish when dying have been so often expatiated on, perhaps the following note, made at the time, may not be uninteresting, for I fancy that in no two Dolphins do the dying colour-changes follow precisely in the] same order. The one I observed, from a grass-green, covered with round ultramarine spots, became silvery, and the green faded, while the deep blue of the dorsal fin, and golden green of the back, remained. Erom this, it changed to a burnished brass colour, the blue spots vanished, and were succeeded by an azure tinge on a](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29308628_0015.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
