280 THE JEANNETTB ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



nearer, when the remaining bear turned and started off, 

 shaking his head ominously. We immediately let go a shot 

 each, which made him jump and start off quicker, we in 

 hot pursuit. But he and his companion soon distanced us. 

 At first I thought it was going to be a fight for life between 

 us, but when I saw them turn and run my only sensations 

 were those of disgust and disappointment. I measured the 

 footprints of one of these bears and found them to average 18 

 inches. This day I saw a raven, the first since leaving 

 Ounalaska ; and Mr. Collins saw a hawk, and from his de- 

 scription I think it was the Iceland falcon. This bird, I re- 

 gret to say, I did not once see during my stay in the Arctic, 

 and my disappointment is great, as I hoped to add further 

 knowledge of its habitat." 



The first seal, a young " floe-rat," was shot by one of the 

 Indians, when with Mr. Cliipp on his sled trip toward 

 Herald Island. After skinning this seal the Indian cut 

 small pieces off each hind foot to " give good luck ; more 

 seal ; kill urn." Then taking the bladder and gall, he dropped 

 them carefully into the water to " make um more seal." 



The first bears killed were taken on the 17th of Septem- 

 ber by Mr. Chipp and Mr. Dunbar. Mr. Collins photograph- 

 ed them in fine style. On this day I got seven beautiful 

 young gulls. These birds were attracted by the killing of 

 the bears, and as they invariably came from the leeward I 

 believe it was the scent of blood, and not by sight, that they 

 were drawn around. I have seen birds on the Banks of 

 Newfoundland attracted similarly, and always in those cases 

 from leeward. 



Among my notes I find the following : " This morning a 

 singular phenomenon occurred. Seaman Mansen described 

 it as follows : ' This night, or early morning, I went aft to 

 look at the compass; going forward again, I noticed a dull 

 red ball of fire on the port bow. It had an oscillating, 

 horizontal motion. In size it looked as big as the moon 

 when full. It lasted for a few minutes, then suddenly dis- 

 appeared ; caused much surprise and discussion among the 



