190 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
the ice is formed from the water, and not from 
the snow, although there can be no doubt but the 
latter adds very materially to the thickness of the 
floes. Since the first of this month, the sun has 
been seen above the hills at midnight, so that we 
have now lost the natural distinction of day and 
night ; however, for the sake of perspicuity, I 
shall continue to use these terms. 
Wednesday, 10th. — Nothing has occurred for 
this week past deserving of notice, except the 
gradual improvement in the state of the weather, 
and that, indeed, is very slow; for the thermo- 
meter, even now, fell at midnight to zero: the 
progress of vegetation is, however, beginning to 
be very perceptible. The people have been em- 
ployed, as above mentioned, cutting the ice round 
the ship. The average thickness of it is about 
seven feet, which I think may be presumed to 
be the general state of all the ice on this har- 
bour, and perhaps, indeed, of all the ice that has 
been formed off this coast during the last winter. 
Friday, 12th. — At two o’clock this afternoon 
the thermometer in the shade rose as high as 
18°, although the wind at the time was from 
the northward ; we had besides to-day another 
indication of the approach of summer, which is that 
of a ptarmigan having been seen. Its plumage, 
with the exception of the tips of the tail feathers, 
was perfectly white, and these were of a jet-black 
colour. 
Saturday, 13th. — A ptarmigan was shot to-day, 
which is supposed to be that seen yesterday, as it 
was found near the same place ; it was in very good 
condition, from which we might infer, if we were 
