Observations on Seals and Whales. 2 17 



With regard to its geographical distribution towards 

 the north, there is the peculiarity that it has not been observed 

 north of ca. 77° N. L. nor have its bones been found in Eskimo 

 ruins, when the latter lie north of the latitude mentioned. Com- 

 paring this with what was said in the hitroduction regarding 

 the northern boundary for/ the open coastal and fjord water, we 

 may well conclude, that the distribution of the bearded seal is 

 dependent on this. It may quite possibly occur still further north, 

 where the coastal and fjord ice do not hinder the approach of the 

 open Polar Sea to the land (e. g. at ca. 81° N. L.). 



With regard to its holes in the ice, these were observed 

 both in thicker and thinner ice in October 1906 and 07. These 

 holes for ascending, which were ca. '/4 x 1 m. in diameter and oval 

 in form, had a great resemblance to those described for the walrus 

 (with thrown-up, broken pieces of ice like a wreath round the hole) ; 

 on thicker ice however the hole was funnel-shaped, broadening out 

 greatly below. On the ice P. barbata is very shy; it is almost 

 impossible to approach it without great care, and we can then see it 

 raising itself on its front flippers and move its small head. Yet they 

 also lie and sleep on the ice; they have been observed for 12 hours 

 here. In the water they are less shy, and one may approach nearer 

 to them. 



Personally I have never been close to a bearded seal on the 

 Expedition. Those that were shot either escaped through their holes 

 and the clefts in the ice, or fell into the water by some mischance. 

 Regarding their food, sex, length etc., therefore, I have nothing 

 to note. 



Harp or Greenland Seal (Phoca groenlandica, O. Fabr.). 



This seal was not seen with certainty under the coast or in the 

 fjords of North-East Greenland. On the other hand, it is common 

 enough in the outermost parts of the drift ice, and it was also 

 seen here both in 1906 and 1908 (^^/7 06 at 75° N. L., 4°34'W. L., 

 where the depth of water was above 2000 m., and ^"/т 08 at ca. 154-2° N. L., 

 ca. 8° W. L.). 



That it has also not been living in the fjords formerly, seems clear 

 from the fact, that its bones are nowhere found in the Eskimo ruins. 



Fjord Seal {Phoca foetida, O. Fabr.). 



This is the commonest seal both in the drift ice and in the 

 North-East Greenland fjords. At the first place it was met with 

 singly in the clear spaces between the ice-floes, constantly diving; 

 XLV. 15 



