1875 DISCOVERY BAY. 115 



and indurated shales, compose the surrounding hills. 

 The strata are highly contorted, often assuming a 

 vertical position ; veins of quartz and chert were fre- 

 quently found traversing these rocks. A few species 

 of wading birds still lingered, but as a rule they were 

 in flocks and evidently on their way south ; turnstones 

 (Strepsilas interpret) were the commonest, but small 

 family parties of the knot (Tringa canutus) were feed- 

 ing along the beach at low-water. Snow-buntings 

 were flocking, and they chirped in a sad disconsolate 

 manner about the frozen streams, trying to extract 

 a little water from chinks and crevices. Eesidents in 

 temperate climes, who enjoy throughout the year the 

 presence of many birds with their joyous notes, can 

 scarcely realize the feelings of the sojourner in Arctic 

 Avilds when the first notes of the snow-bunting, 

 harbinger of summer and returning warmth, awaken in 

 him vivid recollections of the far-off south. With such 

 a one, the snow-bunting must ever remain an especial 

 favourite, and the preparations of this sweet songster 

 for a departure to more genial regions are a reminder 

 of approaching darkness and the monotony of an 

 Arctic winter. 



From my look-out hill I noticed that the ice in the 

 strait was much broken up, with a few water-pools here 

 and there ; although they were not connected, it was 

 evident that an offshore wind would immediately open 

 a channel by which we could advance. 



Owing to our high northern position, although the 

 sun was still above the horizon at midnight, its altitude 

 at noon was too low to affect the temperature much ; 

 consequently after August 20th the temperature of the 



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