THE ICE IN JULY. 



309 



the ice I saw a number of gulls (B. rosea), but was not able 

 to secure any. 



Our Fourth of July this year was passed in hard work, 

 but we were all glad to be able to do it. On the 9th I first 

 saw the land, which afterward was landed on and named 

 Bennett Island. By July 16th most of the floe was old ice, 

 the younger having disappeared both by breaking up and 

 thawing. The proportion of water to ice had much increas- 

 ed. Occasionally a seal was shot by Mr. Collins and 

 Mr. Dunbar, and on the 20th Mr. Collins shot a 



A SUCCESSFUL HUNTEK. 



walrus which was afterwards secured by Mr. Dunbar in a 

 very plucky manner. The fresh meat was very acceptable, 

 and the blubber made good fuel. The boiled skin was not 

 unlike tough tripe or, better yet, pig's feet, and with vinegar 

 I think would be very good. As we journeyed toward land 

 the number of birds increased, among them kittiwake and 

 ivory gulls, guillemots ( U. grylle) and ( U. Brunichii). The 

 gulls (72. tridactyla) were most numerous. 



The ice July 24th was very lively, moving in circles as if 

 the pack was being jammed and pushed by the land. On 

 the 26th, at intervals when the fog lifted, I could with a 



