The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1845-07-03
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sRIGIs or sIlso.

NAAAua
The following memnranda furnishedhy
nr. Fights 10 The editors af the Albany
Cuhivaiar will ih,ow . gratifying hgh,
upon the origin Of Ibis manure. as The IN.
curing mini never fails 10 be interested
IN whalerei tends 10 unfold what might
otherwise be considered mystery. Mos,
writers have referred the origin Of Guano
10 the accumulation for ages Of The o,dure
of some species Of aquatic birds; hat there
are others who, from the INN nse 10
dies of u found in slepo.ile. ascribe il 10 4
mineral origin. The observations OF Or.
Fights. however. must strip the latter de-
scripiinn Of writer's nf MI fonndali n Tor
their theory. while il strongly rorrobo-
rates The apinion formed By The first de-
scriplion Of writers. but be liz origin
~hai 4 may. there can he no doub, or ia
vast power as frrlil ger Of the soil:
finer. Far.
Considering The sxlraordinar, fertilizer
which . now eAciling wide spread inle-
rest IN The az icullural world. land We
may aid, IN the commercial world also,
seeing that so many vessels are employed
in The irafic,l we are indebted 10 Dr.
James Fights, Of Albany. Tor the follow.
ing memoranda. The opportunities for
observation presented by the Expedition
---'he first American Exploring Expedi.
iion--in which he was employed rs Ma
turalisi. certainly furnished ample scope
for judgment On the subject 10 which DE-.
Fights refer: fhlticaior.
"Mnch has recently been said," OBJ
sarves Dr. Fights. !. aud various ha, e been
TIE conjec.ures Respecting the origin of
the Justly popular manure termed Qua
no.. brought in snch vast quantities from
the numerous Islands and headlands Of the
African and South American coasts; but
little or nothing Of a definite i,a,ure has
- jet, believe. appeared IN print. All
writers on The subject, however. seem TO
agree in considering il 10 be the produc.
ZION OF some pisciyorous birds.
As much uncertaint, seems We, 10 pre-
vail. permit me 10 cast my faggo. on the
pile, by offering 10 such Of your readers
whom II may concern, the substance Of
some extracts taken from my notes Of a
voyage, made several wears since to the
SJuth Atlantic, Antartie and Pacific o.
ceans; and likewise, some remarks from
personal observations of at least one Of
Rr birds that largely contribute to its for-
nllion.
Being moorcd al The Island of ST Mary's
on the coast of chill. latitude 81 SOUTH
was at an early hour in the morning.
called on deck To witness the Fight Of
"Shags," Phaiacroeorar graculus) on
one Of their fishing excursions to the sea;
they appeared in such prodisinus num-
bers, that tho while surlace Of the hea-
Gems was almost entirely ohli,era,ed from
the sight; flying in irregularly formed
streams from the main land, from the
breadth Of but few eei 10 that of more
than a mile the whole way; extending in
north and south direction along the coast
az lar as the eye had vision, strikingly
bringing to my recollection the highly in.
.eresiing descriptions of Wilson and Au.
.',hon, Of the multitude Of wild pigeons
in some Of our western States. They con-
iinued in an almost unceasing flight from
the time they were frs, observed, until
we were summoned to our midday meal,
after which, time paid no lu her attention
TO their progress.
The favuriic resting places of these
birds. were the southern ieadland Of tho
Island, which arose in PERCEPTIONS IN III.
ner fIom the waters Of the sea To an eleva-
ton Of about 30 feet abo. e its surface, and
likewise on the SUBMITS of the numerous
rocky islets which were every where
scattered about in lis vicinity Upon ex-
animation these resting places were found
10 be entirely covered by weilcharacteriz.
ed Guano, but so firmly compact. and the
surface Of the rock so completely besmear-
ed with the substance. al their uniting
edges, that il was next 10 an impossible
~ TO determine with any degree Of accu.
racy, its relative thickness. S.s.as
These birds are esteemed as pslatable
food. and for the perind Of three weeks
that we remained al this island, they were
daily served a. mess for b"th officers and
crew Of the ship. Upon examining the
contents of the stomachs Of several al
these birds, We almos, invariably found
them distendtl with the bones and par.
tally deccmposed relics Of small specie:
Of Clupea (Herriug.) which range along
this coast in immense shoals from Ill,
cold waters in the regions of Cape Hor
to the immediate vicinity Of the tropira
line. These corlnoranis dive and swim
well, pursuing and securing their pre-,
while in the water; ascending in the al