1853.] WHALE DISCOVERED ON THE MOUNT. 



deposits of hare, ptarmigan, and fox were abundant ; and 

 following a track which I supposed might lead to their 

 haunt, most unexpectedly stumbled upon some bones of 

 great size projecting from the earth, which, on closer ex- 

 amination, proved to be the head and probably the en- 

 tire skeleton of a very large whale, imbedded at a height 

 of not less than five hundred feet above the sea. I en- 

 deavoured to detach one of the ribs, but it was too 

 firmly frozen to yield to our picks ; a portion of the 

 head-bone was broken away and preserved.* About 

 eight in the evening we moved forward, steering for a 

 long, low spit, bearing east-south-east, barely visible from 

 Mount Parker, owing to the difficulty of distinguishing 

 any slight rise of snow-covered land ; the weather also 

 now inclined to sleet, which to us is quite as annoying 

 as fog. 



May 12. Shortly after midnight we crossed many 

 tracks of bears, and about five o'clock Ursa Major and 

 Minor made their appearance, trotting down very lei- 

 surely, mistaking us, no doubt, for three fine walrus : 

 the train was stopped, and all but the guards desired 

 to lie down and keep close ; the enemy still coming on 

 very leisurely, but evidently not at ease, ever and anon 

 casting her black-tipped nose aloft, looking over her 

 shoulder, and sniffing at something not pertaining to us. 

 Malheuremement, the wolf now showed himself, and 

 just as we considered our game certain, made a feint in 

 rear, spoiling all. Mamma was quite on the alert, and 

 intent to save her cub : off they went at a canter. Our 



* It was then charged with oil ; it has since been deposited at the 

 Royal College of Surgeons. 



