36 COLLETT AND NANSEN. ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS. [NORW. POL. EXP. 



They were seen near the winter hut until late in September, when all 

 water was frozen over. 



The first that appeared after the winter came as early as April 5th 

 (1896), although there was no open water visible anywhere. On April 9th, 

 many were seen. They afterwards appeared frequently, flying about over the 

 ice outside the hut, and along the basaltic cliffs, though with what object it 

 was impossible to discover, as they were never seen to settle, and the 

 water was not yet open, nor were there any lanes in the ice. On April 

 29th, 1896, Nansen says in his diary: "Mollies are seen here constantly flying 

 about, but I cannot make out why they come in here". 



They were also observed frequently during the journey south from the 

 hut. On June 3rd, they were found in large numbers established on the 

 basaltic crags just east of the high, perpendicular, basaltic cliff of Cape Fisher 

 (81 N. Lat), the only nesting-place that was found during the journey. The 

 rock here was not very precipitous, but had sloping terraces. On the high, 

 precipitous cliff close by, there was a numerous colony of Uria lomvia. 



At Gape Flora they were seen frequently in the course of the summer, 

 but did not seem to nest nearer to that station than on Mabel Island 1 . 



During the homeward voyage in the 'Windward', some few fulmars were 

 seen in the ice, August 8th, 1896; and along the edge of the ice, in the open 

 Barents Sea, they were rather numerous on August 9th and 10th. 



Most of the specimens belonged to the dark variety; only a few belong- 

 ing to a lighter form were seen. The same also seemed to be the case 

 farther north, on Franz Josef Land, and during the journey over the ice. 



Cepphus mandti, Licht. 1822. 



On May 29th, 1895, when the ice had become rather broken up, the 

 first birds of the year made their appearance during the sledge-journey, 

 namely, a pair of Fulmarus and a Cepphus mandti. The latter, which 

 was already in full summer plumage, flew several times round the travellers, 

 and disappeared, probably in one of the lanes which were just forming (82 

 26' N. Lat.). 



1 Cf. Clarke and Bruce, The Ibis, 1898, p. 275. 



