272 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Marcs 



the unprotected glass, snow-flakes formed and an actual 

 fall of snow took place in my cabin. 



< YJth. — A bright sun, but a cold nipping wind, 

 with squalls from the south-west, atmosphere very 

 clear. I walked to Cape Eawson with Parr and 

 George Bryant, the captain of the " Discovery's " 

 sledge crew, to show him the " Crossing Floe," stretching 

 for a distance of six or seven miles across Eobeson 

 Channel. 



' In the ravine north of the cape, on the same plot 

 of sparsely vegetated ground where foot-prints of 

 ptarmigan were last seen in the autumn, we found 

 their fresh traces. On the 10th three small birds 

 were reported to have been seen by one of the crew ; 

 it is now probable that they were ptarmigan, our first 

 visitors from the south. The " Polaris " did not ob- 

 serve any before the 25th of this month. 



* At noon, when the temperature in the shade was 

 minus 20°, the black bulb thermometer in the sun 

 registered plus 40°. Some snow on a cask, well satu- 

 rated with salt, melted when exposed to the sun, the 

 staves being quite wet. At the same time the snow 

 on the black ship's side was merely evaporating without 

 wetting the woodwork. 



4 We have had great trouble in finding the snow- 

 house containing the powder which was landed for 

 greater security in the autumn. During the winter the 

 house has become covered by snowdrifts, and in the 

 darkness the pole marking its position has been lost. 



8 20th. — A magnificent day ; calm, with a bright 

 sun and a light violet-tinted mist hanging above the 

 Greenland hills, a certain indication of fine weather. 



