38 THE CJERJIAN AIJOTIC EXPEDITION. 



as tlie Norwegian coast here runs somewhat to the north- 

 east, and we of course, even in a continuous north-west 

 wind, could still make, on the starboard tack, some north- 

 ward progress. 



On account of this continuous northerly wind, and the 

 easterly-setting Gulf Stream, we came so near the Nor- 

 wegian coast, that one evening we thought we could see 

 it from the top. It was not until we reached the latitude 

 of Drontheim that we were able to return to our north- 

 westerly course. 



The darkness of the nights had in the meantime visibly 

 diminished; and at midnight between the 1st and 2nd of 

 July, when the sun left us at about a quarter past ten, 

 lampliglit on deck, even by the binnacle, was unnecessary. 

 AVe could read the finest print comfortably. As a glance 

 at the map will show, we were now in a neighbourhood 

 frequented comparatively by few ships, except those 

 going to the northern Norwegian harbours or visiting 

 the Arctic region proper. Whilst in the North Sea, one 

 or more sail might generally be seen on the horizon, or 

 in the distance the smoke of a steamer. Now we found 

 ourselves alone upon the broad surface, which to some 

 offers only a picture of boundless void and lasting same- 

 ness, but in others excites a deep feeling of the might 

 and sublimity of boundless Nature. 



Animal life, too, now prevailed to a remarkable degree, 

 which is in a great measure, at least as far as birds are 

 concerned, connected with the neighbourhood of land. 

 The ship was surrounded nearly the whole day by the 

 three-toed sea-gull {Larus tridacUjlus, L.) in flocks of 

 from twenty to fifty, with the swiftness and lightness 

 of wing peculiar to this small gull, following the ship 



