"I remark one thing, Mr. Jeorling."
"What is it, boatswain?"
"That these birds do not fly so directly south as they did up to the present. Some of them are setting north."
"I have noticed the same fact."
"And I add, Mr. Jeorling, that those who are below there will come back without delay."
"And you conclude from this?"
"I conclude that they feel the approach of winter."
"Of winter?"
"Undoubtedly."
"No, no, boatswain; the temperature is so high that the birds can't want to get to less cold regions so prematurely."
"Oh! prematurely, Mr. Jeorling."
"Yes, boatswain; do we not know that navigators have always been able to frequent the Antarctic waters until the month of March?"
"Not at such a latitude. Besides, there are precocious winters as well as precocious summers. The fine se
