1876 LEMMINGS. 237 



suppose it due to the excessively cold temperature. 

 In more than one instance severe running has been 

 followed by blood-spitting from otherwise healthy 

 men. 



' I walked a short distance out to the northward 

 among the hummocks with Mr. Wootton. Although 

 the snow-banks are hard, yet it is certainly as rough a 

 road for sledges as can be imagined. 



8 Egerton reports having found the track of a hare 

 on the land. It will not be long before Dr. Moss, our 

 most persevering hunter, shoots the poor creature. 



' A few pieces of musk-ox meat, left from yesterday, 

 were again cooked by accident to-day ; detection was 

 immediate. The musky flavour apparently increases 

 the more the meat is cooked. 



' 12th. — Preparations are being made for the spring 

 travelling campaign. To-day all the tents were spread 

 on the ice to ascertain whether further alteration was 

 necessary. In the autumn we found that none of 

 them quite reached the full measurement ; they have 

 now been altered, allowing sixteen and a half inches 

 to each man, or rather thirty-three inches between 

 two men sleeping head to foot as they are obliged to 

 do when sledging. Less space may be conducive to 

 warmth, but probably also to cram]). 



' While walking yesterday with Parr, we found a 

 hare's burrow in the snow, and to-day Markham has 

 found another. It is difficult to say how these hares 

 can protect themselves from the foxes, whose footmarks 

 Ave have seen lately, but it would appear that there are 

 very few in the neighbourhood. Lemmings are also 

 making their appearance ; we find their holes in the 



