The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 



19 



way. Also some specimens of old birds (both sexes) without indi- 

 cation of brooding speck did I find among the flocks. 



Most of the male eider ducks, especially those belonging to the 

 species spectabilis, disappeared likewise in the middle of July; some 

 individuals even earlier. After the middle of the month I saw 

 everywhere on the plains and moors the downy young of the waders. 

 They lived exclusively on animal food, especially flies and gnats 

 and the larves of these insects which were present in immense 

 numbers. 



That the summer time with its mild weather and abundance 



Fig. 10. Small freshwater lake. Favourite breeding place of Redthroated Divers. 



of food brought an extremely pleasant change from the severe con- 

 ditions of the winter in the case of the mammals, may be easily 

 understood. While the polar bear and musk-ox also in the summer 

 were strolling about far and wide, accompanied by their young, the 

 foxes, wolves and hares led a less roving life, and in the case of 

 the two last mentioned animals they were most frequently to be 

 found near the place where the young were staying. 



Already about the middle of August the summer was evidently 

 declining. At times the night-frost might be rather perceptible, and 

 now and then it caused a formation of thin new ice on the sea- 



2* 



