12 A. L. V. Manniche. 



of absolute darkness brings perhaps a little alleviation in their cir- 

 cumstances, just as the fox with the arrival of the ptarmigans has 

 got a chance more. For the rest the conditions of life are very 

 nearly the same in the two months with regard to the higher ani- 

 mal forms living in the country. 



The climatic conditions of March are like those of the two 

 preceding winter months. On account of continual low temperature 

 the increasing sunlight has no particular influence on the character 

 of the landscape. Towards the end of the month a faint evapora- 

 tion of the snow masses may be traced however. — Ptarmigans, 

 ravens and snowy owls are still the only birds which the traveller 

 finds on his way. Enticed by the sunlight the ermine and lemming 

 begin to make small excursions on the surface of the snow, though 

 still they resort chiefly to the hidden places on account of the 

 severe cold. In March the pairing of the arctic fox, and probably 

 of the ermine as well, takes place. 



Though the average temperature of April was ч- 19, still this 

 month made in some respects an impression of spring. The down- 

 pour was extremely insignificant, and the increasing sunlight caused 

 a perceptible evaporation of the snow on the southward facing 

 slopes, on the flat shores and in the meadow lands. Any snow- 

 melting proper was consequently out of the question as yet. The 

 inlet ice as well as the icecovered freshwater lakes and streamlets 

 on land still retained the character of winter entirely. 



In the beginning of April the first snow-buntings arrived, ex- 

 clusively old males. The ptarmigans and snow-buntings were always 

 seen seeking their food on the snowless spots, especially near the 

 coast and in the low-lying fens. Towards the end of April the 

 paired gyrfalcons were seen at their nests. 



According to the observations of Koch and Bertelsen the storm 

 petrels (Fulmarus glacialis) had arrived already in April in great 

 numbers at their nesting places on "Mallemukfjeldet". The unusually 

 favourable ice conditions which always exist here, as far as the 

 travellers were able to judge, consequently account for the early 

 arrival of the species. 



The polar hares which begin to pair in April, assembled in 

 parties on the most favourable foraging localities, and traces of 

 ermine and lemming were now frequently to be found — in the 

 case of the latter even often on the inlet ice. The polar bear, the 

 pairing of which also partly takes places in April, began to hunt 

 the seals which were lying on the inlet ice now and then, at the 

 edge of their breathing holes, enjoying the warmth of the sun. 



The month of May forms the transition from winter to summer, 



