Apr. 1S58. ICE AGAIN CLOSED. 81 



the latter, unfortunately, would not allow themselves to be 

 caught. 



With all possible haste the rudder was shipped, sail set, 

 and before three o'clock the ship was running fast to the 

 eastward. 



During the night the ice closed, at daylight this morning 

 scarcely any water was visible, and we were again beset after 

 having sailed about 18 miles. 



With the exception of a couple of icebergs, all the ice in 

 sight is not more than two days old, and mainly owes its 

 origin and rapid growth to the immense quantity of snow 

 blown off the pack. 



It still blows hard, and thermometer stands at n°. A 

 sudden opening of the ice this forenoon allowed us to run a 

 few miles southward, and then it closed again. 



20th.— Position 64 22' N., 5 8° 45' W. We have been 

 carried rapidly past the position where the arctic discovery 

 ship 'Resolute' was picked up in September, 1855, whither 

 she had drifted from 74 41' N., and 101 W., the spot 

 where she was abandoned in May, 1854. 



Yesterday three bears, a fulmar petrel, and a snow bunt- 

 ing were seen ; this hardy little bird is usually amongst the 

 earliest of our summer visitors, but there is a still smaller 

 bird — the red-pole — which has been found as far north as 

 latitude 74 . How so frail a creature can take such an 

 extensive flight, and cross even more than 100 miles of 

 ocean, it is difficult to conceive. To-day a fine bear came 

 within 150 yards, and was shot by our sportsmen; as they 

 were standing round it afterwards upon the ice, a small seal, 

 the only one seen for several days, popped up its head as if 

 to exult over its fallen enemy — it was of course instantly 

 shot : we have learnt to esteem very highly seal's liver fried 

 with bacon for breakfast. 



It seems hardly right to call polar bears land animals ; 



G 



