December 1853 South Pacific Ocean. The sky at evening now begins to assume the seen appearance peculiar to trop- ic or subtropical regions. 28th S. Lat. 34° 55' E. Lon 151° 10' Wind Variable 2kn. At noon the coast of New Holland or Australia, was in sight to the westward. It had the appearance of low land, forming a succession of clumps along the horizon, with considerably uniform- ity of height. Today a Salpa, flaccus, a few Crusta- cea, and several curious pelagic fish (Scopeli etc.) were added to those species already taken on this coast. 24th S. Lat 34° 52' E. Lon 151° 58' Wind N.W. No 6 In the afternoon as we neared the land, a petrel was seen flying ahead of the ship instead of astern over the wake. It was of a brown color, or greyish- brown; size of our Gull petrel, an "Mottin Cary's Chicken" but more slender, and with sharper wings, as in the whale bird. At sunset we were within a dozen miles of the land, which was but little elevated, and the nearest points appeared of a rusty brown color. A hot wind came off from the land, bringing with it innumerable insects, many of which sought refuge on the ship, and others having fallen into the water were taken with the tow-net. There were butterflies of four species, two kinds of moths, three of Libellulae, many wasps and flies, and a dozen or more species of Calesptera. While we were en- joying this scene, the wind suddenly shift- ed to the Southward and Eastward, and blew most violently, so that we were soon reduced to close reefed topsails and trysails on the off shore tack. The storm ceased however, soon after midnight. 25th S. Lat 38° 50' E. Lon 151° 52' Wind Vbl. No 4k. Sunday. Today is Christmas, but we are disapp- pointed in our hopes of eating our Christ- mas dinner ashore. The entrance of Port Jackson, with the lighthouse, was however visible in the afternoon, when it unfortunately fell calm, preventing us from reaching the port this day. 26th At daylight we commenced beating in to the mouth of the harbor, which