OFF HERALD ISLAND. 279 



with Chipp, Collins and Dunbar, took a boat for the shore, 

 but pack-ice prevented their landing. 



On the 31st, at Kolyutschin Bay, Mr. Chipp and Mr. 

 Danenhower found traces of Nordenskiold pictures, coins, 

 and coat-buttons. I shot a number of herring (Siberian 

 variety of Argentatusi) and glaucous-winged gulls, and saw 

 numerous seals (the "floe-rats" of Lament, Plwca faetida). 

 In the afternoon of this day we left for Wrangel Land, 

 through loose ice which floated from one to ten feet out of 

 water. 



After some days, on Thursday, September 4th, at six P. M., 

 we sighted Herald Island. Among the creatures seen I 

 enumerate walrus, seals, and bears, and of the birds there 

 were phalaropes in small flocks of six, ten, or twelve. These 

 graceful little creatures were very unsuspicious, swimming 

 quite near and in circles, as is their habit when feeding. 

 They ride very buoynntly in the water, and are so interesting 

 that I could watch them for hours. Then there were mur- 

 res and guillemots, beautiful kittiwake gulls, some burgo- 

 masters (these last very shy), and the lovely ivory gull, in 

 both adult and immature plumage. Its immature white, 

 spotted with black, is very pretty, but the pure whiteness of 

 the adult, with the coal-black feet and legs, makes a very 

 pretty picture. This species, afterward very common, was 

 always very tame. 



The men were at this time enjoying themselves with foot- 

 ball and skating on the new ice, which was at this time from 

 four to six inches thick. Their skates were made on board 

 for the occasion. Having read and heard much of the fero- 

 cious polar bear, I can never forget my feelings as upon 

 one occasion Mr. Collins and I approached two large ones 

 which we discovered. In my journal I find this note : 



" I thought they were going to show fight as they came 

 toward us, then stood defiantly awaiting our approach. 

 Loading our rifles we walked toward them, cocking our 

 pieces, but when within some four hundred yards one of 

 them turned and left. We got about one hundred yards 

 17 



