NO. *.] THE FIRST SUMMER IN THE ICE. 15 



began to freeze up (August 23rd). The ship was then in 81 N. Lat., 128 

 E. Long. They were not seen subsequently. 



Rhodostethia rosea, (Macg.) 1824. 



None of this species was observed during the voyage along the Siberian 

 coast, nor yet, with certainty, north of the New Siberian Islands during the 

 first autumn. 



In the second autumn (1894), when the ship was in 81 5' to 81 8' 

 N. Lat. and 127V2 E. Long., eight specimens, all young birds of that year, were 

 shot between August the 3rd and 8th. No others were observed' with cer- 

 tainty. The distance from the nearest known land (the New Siberian Islands 

 and Cape Chelyuskin) was about 560 kilometres. 



On August 3rd, three small gulls were seen flying round the ship; they 

 were all shot by Nansen, and were at once recognised as young specimens 

 of the roseate gull. * 



When the first of them was observed in the distance by Nansen, he 

 took it for a kittiwake; but he soon saw that it was more like a skua, 

 with its long, pointed wings, its wedge-shaped tail, and its dark colour. When 

 Nansen came out again after having been on board to fetch his gun, there 

 were two birds together; they flew several times round the ship, close by, 

 and were easily shot, as they were not shy. When the first had been shot, 

 the second came and flew backwards and forwards above Nansen, who shot 

 at it at too long a range, for fear of damaging its skin. After fetching more 

 cartridges, he placed himself behind a piece of ice, with his head above the top 

 "in order to keep an eye on the bird, which was circling above the fresh- 

 water ponds, the lanes, and the dogs, dropping down now and again when 

 it saw something in the water". It then directed its flight straight towards 

 him, and came right above his head, evidently to see what he was. It was 

 shot at too close range, so that the head was shot off. 



1 One or two of the crew stated subsequently that three specimens of the same species 

 (possibly the very same birds) had been observed several times on the previous day 

 near the ship; they made no mention of them, however, believing them to be kitti- 

 wakes. They had circled for some time as if in play, about the masts, and it looked 

 almost as if they were pecking at the ship's pennant. 



