Introduction. 



THE Leader of the expedition has already pointed out, in his introduc- 

 tory report, that it was no part of our plan to explore the inland ice, 

 this being, in our case, merely a route to be followed, not a goal in itself. 

 I take this opportunity of emphasising the fact, in order that our scientific 

 observations may be judged accordingly. I am fully aware that such 

 observations with regard to meteorological and glaciologicai condi- 

 tions etc. as we have been able to make must therefore necessarily fall 

 short of what might be desired. Possibly, however, they may yet be of 

 some slight value as a contribution towards the study of natural features 

 in the greatest desert of ice at present known, in which case, the object 

 with which they are published will have been attained. 



Zoology. 



On a sledge trip of so considerable length, it is obviously necessary 

 to reduce the loads to an indispensable minimum. In our case, where 

 the double journey to and from our field of operations covered 1000 

 kilometres over the inland ice, the transport of heavy preparations was 

 out of the question, and the zoological collections were in consequence 

 practically restricted to insects. Under such circumstances, the obser- 

 vations of an expert zoologist would naturally have been more valuable, 

 as well as more numerous; my notes were of necessity confined to such 

 birds and mammals as I was able to determine with certainty. Insects, 

 larvæ etc. were merely collected and labelled as well as possible. In 

 several cases I have been assisted by Knud Rasmussen and the other 

 members of the party, who were well versed in the ornithology of their 

 native country. 



Of mammals, 7 species were observed, and tracks of 3 others found. 



Observed : Tracks or other good sign seen of : 

 Musk ox Fox Bear 



Hare Wolf Reindeer 



Lemming Ringed seal Greenland Whale 



Stoat. 



