A WALK AMONG THE BIRDS. 311 



These birds were U. Brunichii. U. grylle were very com- 

 mon, but scatter more when nesting. 



Our camp at this time was within fifty or sixty yards of 

 the shore on the grounded ice. This evening after supper 

 all hands were called, and headed by the captain, who carried 

 the American ensign, marched ashore. After all were ga- 

 thered about, the captain said : 



" The land we have been working for so long, is a new dis- 

 covery. I take possession of it in the name of the President 

 of the United States, and name this land Bennett Island. I 

 call for three cheers." 



They were given. Then the captain, turning to Mr. Chipp, 

 said : 



" Mr. Chipp, give all hands all the liberty you can on 

 American soil." 



I took a short ramble. The next day I went off with gun 

 and note-book. Sunshine and fog, with light southerly airs. 

 I noticed a rapid current by the shore here, with a tidcfall 

 of some two feet. The tidal observations were conducted 

 near camp, beside a big rock, which, from its shape, was 

 christened the ' rudder.' 



My walk was past this rock to try and reach the places 

 where the murres and guillemots were. I climbed up some 

 twelve hundred feet over very treacherous disintegrated 

 rocks. I found the birds in all stages, from the nestling to 

 two-thirds grown. The murres sat in long rows like the 

 citizens of ' Cranberry Centre ' at ' town meeting,' and were 

 very noisy. The guillemots nest very prettily. Fancy some 

 pinnacled rocks of a rich, warm brown cropping out from a 

 mountain side, on top of these small patches of short, beau- 

 tiful green vegetation, and you have the spot. Place a coal 

 black bird with white wing patches and bright red feet on 

 this green cushion, silently watching the intruder, and the 

 picture is complete, unless you can fancy a pure white gull 

 flying past, and its voice echoing from crag to crag. 



My ascent of this place was comparatively easy, though 



