September, 1853 South Atlantic Ocean 6th S. Lat 39°08' E. Lon 9°11' Wind SbyE 6k Course to the S and W We had another addition to our number of attendants today in the "Whale birds" now seen for the first time. They are Of a bluish gray color, darker on the front of their wings above, and paler below. Size between a Curie and a Cape pigeon. They were never seen to alight but kept up a rapid somewhat irregular, fluttering flight some ways astern of the vessel. Vast flocks were seen at a distance to-day, and a few (from to five) have always followed the ship till near the Cape. Two albatrosses were caught. The last of the "Cape hens" were 7th S. Lat 34°6' E. Lon. 8°34' Wind S. 4 knots We stood to the Eastward during the morning, but in the afternoon tacked again and stood to the Sd & W. Pyrosaurae are still seen in the evening. The weather has been unfair for a few days. The last of the Pr. gigantus was seen today. September, 1853 8th S. Lat 35°7 E. Lon 8°39' Nearly Calm. Course S.E. A Cape pigeon was seen with a piece of string attached to it. In the evening the net took a variety of interesting animals, as Salpae, Cleodora pyramidata in great numbers, and Cleodora balantium?, Monilepis etc 9th S. Lat 35°27 E. Lon. 9°52 Wind W. 5 kn. We are now in the same longitude as on the 6th, having in four days gained only 2 degrees of latitude. Consequently if we had made two degrees further to the South in 3° and 6° W. Lon, where the wind allowed of it, we perhaps would have shortened our passage three days, in (making 42 days from Pt Praya to the Cape) avoiding the detention of a head wind. Numerous whale sports were seen around the ship. 10th S. Lat 35°06' E. Lon 13°49' Wind S.W. 8 kn. Two more species of birds were seen for the first time today. The first ( ) a little larger than the Cape pigeon, with brown back and white breast. The