September. 1853 South Atlantic Ocean Second ( ) a very small petrel or Carie, black, with a white spot above at the root of the tail. This latter species had very curious habits; - it seemed rather to skip over the water than to fly, rarely remaining on the wing for a greater distance than a few rods (usually much less - a few feet) written- touching or patting the water with one of its feet, sometimes with the right foot, sometimes the left. It was not seen to alight. Saw or five of them were seen every day un- til we arrived at the Cape. 11th S. Lat. 34° 53' E. Lon 13° 10' Wind S.W. 5k. S. Several Sails in sight. We made the land at this Cape of Good Hope at 2h 30m P.M In the evening it was calm, which enabled me to collect with the tow net a variety of ani- mals chiefly Crustacea - as Monstipes and in abundance. Two or four pelagic species of small fish also oc- curred. 12th S. Lat. 34° 37' E. Lon 18° 14' Wind S. September 1853 Cape of Good Hope At two o'clock in the morning the land was but little nearer than on the pre- vius evening, as it had been calm during the night. Numerous whales surrounded the ship and some sport- ed very near us. The waters were filled with the food of these Leviathans, consisting of small crustacea chiefly. A sounding showed the temperature at 100 f. (near the bottom) to be 66° at Surface 66°. Until nearly 12 o'clock it was nearly calm, and we approach- ed the land but slowly, giving me an opportunity of using my tow-net to advantage. Monstipes, Medusa etc. were taken in abundance, and as we entered False Bay with an increasing breeze, streaks of "red dust" were seen on the surface of the water - which on examination proved to be multitudes of the tad-pole like larvie of Ascidia. The water itself was of a dark red color and looked like Coffee. A few stalks of the large Sea weed (Lamin- aria?) were passed. The small white Albatross, followed is into the Bay, as