474 TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



and our experiences of them, and of la paiivre compagiiie 

 in general. I then turned in in the cabin and had three 

 hours' sleep. 



Our course now is due west, having run to the north- 

 west sufficiently to clear Kolguev by about twenty miles 

 on this course. The wind is light and not felt on deck, 

 while the sails aloft are scarcely drawing. "We move 

 quickly through the glassy smooth water, however, at the 

 rate of 2^ to 3 knots an hour. 



The silence on deck is a striking contrast to the bustle 

 of the past storm, and to the monotonous ' By the mark, 

 two-o-o ' of the Norwegian lad at the lead when amongst 

 the shoals of the channel inside. 



Phalaropes were seen, and one flock flew close round 

 us during the storm. 



Two large Snowy Owls flew round and alighted on the 

 main-topmast. Seebohm shot one, but it fell overboard 

 and was lost. 



Black Scoters were seen flying to the south-west. 



August 4. 



On Wednesday, the 4th of August, I kept a watch with 

 the Captain till 8 bells, midnight, and then turned in and 

 had seven hours' ' solid ' sleep. 



There was thick fog with a steady breeze, and we are 

 slipping along in fine style on a N.W.JN. course in order 

 to get an offing north of the island of Kolguev, the 

 position, however, of which is not permanently fixed, 

 there being a difference of 12 miles between the Russian 

 and English charts, in longitude. We keep to the north 

 of the island, as the sea is shallow between it and the 

 Timanski coast. 



August 5. 



On Thursday, the 5th of August, I was confined with a 

 painful sty in the left eye, and Seebohm though not sea- 



