1772.
August.
Saturday 5.two days after to take a dolphin, (coryphæna hippurus,) which is likewise dry meat; but the inimitable brightness of its colours, which continually change from one rich hue to another whilst it is drying, is, in my opinion, one of the most admirable appearances which can occur to the voyager's view during a tropical navigation.
But here description clouds each shining ray;
What terms of art can Nature's pow'rs display?
A boat was this day hoisted out in order to find the direction of the current, and to determine the temperature of the sea-water at a great depth. We sounded with 250 fathoms without finding any bottom. The thermometer in the air stood at 75½ deg. dipped under the surface of the sea it shewed 74 deg. and after being let down to the depth of 85 fathoms and hauled up again, it was fallen to 66 deg. It staid 30′ under water, and was 27½ in hawling up. Our latitude at noon was 0° 52′ north. The boat being out, we had an opportunity of examining that kind of blubber, or sea-nettle, which Linnæus has named medusa pelagica; together with another submarine animal called doris lævis, and employed ourselves in making drawings of them, and more minute descriptions than have hitherto been published.
Wednesday 9.On the 9th, having passed the line with a light air, our crew ducked such of their shipmates as had never crossed itbefore,
