The North-Carolinian., 1854-03-11
VOLUME XV-NO. 784.
From the Albany Cmitiuator, Dec. 1S44. 3
Orivin Of (.ulnO.

From the Albany Cuituator, Dec. 1S44 -ess
Origin Of Cuano.
Concerning the extraordinary fertilizer whicl,
is now exciting wide spread interest in the agri-
cultural world, (and we may add in the COM
mcrcial world ALSO seeing that so many vessels
are employed in the traffic. we are indebted to
DR.. James Fights of Albany, for the following
memoranda. The opportunities for observation
presented by the Expedition-the first Ameri.
Exploring Expedtion-n which lie was
employed as Naturalist, certainly furnished am
pie scope for Judgment Oh the subject to which
Dr. Fights refers
"Much has recently been sad' observes DR..
Flights, "and various have been the conjcctures
Respecting the origin Of the justly popular man
lsre termed sGnano,' brought in such qnqntf.ics
from the numerous Islands and headlands of the
African and South American coasts: but little
or nothing of definite nature has as yet | be-
cvc, appeared in print. All writer's the
subject however, seem to agree in considering
1T to be the production of some piscivorous birds.
AS much uncertainty seems yet to prevail
permit me to cast my faggot on the pile, by Of
ferng to such of your readers whom it may
concern, the substance of some extracts taken
from my notes of voyage, made several years
since to the South Atlantic, Antartic and
Pacific Oceans: and likewise, remarks
from personal observations of at least one of tho
birds that largely contribute to its formation.
Being moored at the Island of ST. Mays OIL
the coas of Chilli (latitute 81 south) was at
an early hour in the morning, called on deck to
witness the flight Of 'Shags," (Ihniocrccor0r {.
graculus) on one of their fishing excursions t"
the sea; they appeared in such prodigious num-
bers, that the whole surface Of the heavens
almost entirely oblitcratcd from the sight; fly
ing in irregularly formed streams from the main
land from the breadth of but a few feet to that,
of more than mile the whole way, extending
in Il north and south direction along the coast
as far the eye had vision, strikingly bringing
to my recollection the highly interesting de-
scription of Wilson and Audubon, of the multi!
tudc of will pigeons in some of our w cstern
States. They continued in almost unccasing
flight from the time they were first observed.
until were summoned to our midway meal,
after which time paid no further attention to
their progress.
| The favoritc resting place of these birds
| the southern head'and of the Island, whicls
arose in a prccipitous manner from the waters
| of the to elevation of about ninety feet
above its surface, ard likewise on the SUBMITS
| of the numerous rocky slets which were every
where scattered about its vicinity. Upon cA-
animation, these resting places were found to
be entirely covered by well chara ctcrized Guano
but so firmly compact, and the surface Of the
rock so completely besmcarcd with the sub
stance at their uniting edges, that it was next
J to impossibility to determine with any degree
OF accuracy its relative thickness.
| These birds are esteemed palatible food,
4 and for the period of three weeks that we re-
manned at this Island, they were daily served & t
mess for both officers and of the shil.
pom examining the contents of the stOuac,s
of several of these birds, we almost invariably.
! found them distended with the bones and par
TALLY decOmpOScd relics of a small species q"
CIupea (Hcrring,) which range along this coast.
III immense shoals from the cold waters in the
reg :ons about Cape Horn to the Immediate
vicinity of the tropical line. These cormorants.
dive and swim well, pursuing and securing their
prey while in the water; ascending i'm the air to
W thpv do wit fl,n foe;
tv, tossing it up and catching it again as it de-
scends, they swallow ii almost instantancousTv
in head foremost direction. From their pro
digious numbers, their voracious appetite, ana
| exceedingly rapid digestion, very large amount
| of these fishes daily consumed by them.
After having thus gorgcd themselves with food
they retire to their usual resting places
projecting hcadland or rocky islet in the sea,
where they remain for hours together, with out
| spread wings, until digestion has completed its
| course, when they again rocecd to sea to re-
new the process. 1t is at such times that the
Guano is so copiously deposited.
/ This species of cOrmorant has great geo
gra phcaI range, being found along both cont
nents from the frozen regions OF the north, t"
the antartic sea, and of course are not uncon.-
mon along whole Atlantic board, but IN
co. sequence of the frequent and copious rains
which fall in these latitudcs the guano is unable
to accumulate, being dissolved and washed
away almost rapidly it be produce,s.
| Penguins likewise, have frequently been mer-
toned contributing largely to the formation
Of guano, but from the peculiar habits of th.
various species of these birds it will be readily
seen that but a comparatively small portion os
this substance can justly be attributed to them.
In the warm climate Of the Peruvian coast whcr;
this manure chiefly abonntls and where rains arc
seldom, if ever known to fall, these birds ar"
relatively of rare occurrence but gradually r-
| crease in number i'll proceeding to the south
until the antaric reached in the colti
waters of which, they in the greatest profusion
are found, being not untrequently observoe.
covering the surfaces of its numerous iceberrsc
which arc every where to be drifting alon,e
at rapid rate by the power of the winds and
the velocity Of tie currents.
These birds are also of an aquatic nature
spending the greater portion Of their existence
III the open sea, visiting the land only for the
purposes Of moting, Matching and rearing theis
young, which certainly does not exceed three
months i'll the year In the high latitudrS
where Penguins most abound guaEo is exceed
Eingly scarce.
| From the facts here stated, and the circun-
stance that no piscivorous birds are so numerous
III the regions where guano is found i'll the great
est profusion, as the Ihaincrocornr gaeulus,
consider myself fully justified i'll the conclusion
| that it is by these birds that this truly valu"-
bic manure is almost altoe ether produced.
/ Council OF SrArE.---There was no quorum o.
this body on Thursday iast-Messrs Lane, HUI