CHAP. V.] FLOCKS OF LOONS. 335 



from the yet lower land abutting the sea, and in 

 shape resembled the roof of a large barn. Two 

 others, differing from the first in having more 

 ridged and rounded extremities, next caught the 

 eye, which, from these, wandered over a more 

 regular surface, until arrested by a gorge or pass. 

 To the north and west of this succeeded a 

 range of uneven heights, extremely varied and 

 novel. The southern termination appeared like 

 an island, but was supposed, in fact, to be con- 

 nected by a small ridge of low land. The 

 summits and rounded tops of a portion of this 

 extraordinary island were still enveloped in their 

 winter mantle, but innumerable patches proved 

 the influence of the advancing season. 



May 10th brought no change : not a living 

 creature was seen, nor a drop of water detected 

 within scope of the horizon ; the ice, so far as 

 we were conscious, was motionless, though our 

 observations assured us that we were drifting 

 gradually to the south east. As dusk drew on, 

 two holes of water were seen in a south east di- 

 rection, but up to midnight they were not en- 

 larged. Very early on the 1 1 th an immense number 

 of loons flew towards the west, and were shortly 

 afterwards followed by additional flocks which 

 seemed to pursue the same course. The sky 

 was overcast, and the land consequently indis- 

 tinct ; but there was little doubt that we had 



