The terrestrial mammals and birds of North-East Greenland. 99 



downy young by the end of August 1906. In June I found some 

 old birds in lakes in a distance of some 5 to 6 kilometer from the 

 coast, but there was no indication of their breeding here and I sup- 

 pose, that the nesting-places are ahvays chosen at such places, from 

 which the nestlings have an easy access to the salt water, to which 

 they — according to my experience — are at once directed. 



I found several old nests, which all were built on grassy banks 

 of lakes, lying near the coast. When the Ducks had begun their 

 breeding, the Drakes would still stay near the nest for a while. Not 

 before the moulting season would they gather in flocks by the 

 mouths of rivers and small bays; here they are not so exposed to 

 hostile persecutions during the time in which they are unable to 

 use their wings for flight. 



Soon after our arrival to the Danmarks Havn (August 17*^^ 

 1906) I had a very good chance to study the behaviour of the Long- 

 tailed-Ducks. In the openings of the little bay covered with new 

 ice larger flocks of old males were lying; the birds had quite lost 

 their primaries. 



In a quite small opening near the shore some 60 birds were 

 lying very close to each other. Only one bird was able to fly; the 

 others endeavoured by diving to escape the pursuit of the boat, which 

 was forced through the ice. Some of these birds were killed and 

 examined. A female with 6 small young ones was swimming at the 

 mouth of a river not far from this place; on my arrival they made 

 themselves invisible under the surface, exhibiting a great dexterity 

 in these evolutions. I observed the small downy creatures rushing 

 round under the thin transparent ice soon after one by one return- 

 ing to the open water. There they only lifted their heads over the 

 surface and as they constantly kept themselves close to the weathe- 

 red pieces of ice in drift, the movements of which they followed, 

 they were extremely well hidden. 



They seemed by no means inconvenienced by the stay in the 

 ice-cold water. 



The next day the ice had quite disappeared, driven away by a 

 strong land-breeze. 



During my stay at Hvalrosodden in the last part of August 

 1906 I every day observed many broods of young ones at the shore 

 and in Lakseelven. The majority were still downy; they were 

 often hunted by Ravens and Gulls (Laras glaiicus) especially when 

 they had retired for resting purpose to the shore or banks of the river. 



Early one morning I saw an old Gull snatching an almost full- 

 grown Long-tailed-Duck, having first in vain made some violent 

 attacks upon the flock. 



V 



