1876 SNOW-BUNTING. 317 



mined spirits ; looking forward to the travelling becom- 

 ing better after they rounded Cape Stanton, then only 

 two miles from them. 



1 Lieutenant May had followed up the M'Cormick 

 valley lying to the eastward of Cape Brevoort and 

 leading towards Newman Bay. He discovered a fair 

 road, with a hard snow-floor and a gentle incline some 

 two or three miles long, leading up to a dividing plateau 

 about 400 feet above the sea-level. From the summit 

 of the cape, 2,000 feet high, he obtained a magnificent 

 view ; but the heavy climb having necessitated his 

 taking off his outer coat, he was almost frozen before 

 he could do more than obtain the most important 

 bearings. 



'The first snow-bunting was seen to-day. Many 

 are the speculations whether they also will pass us for 

 more favoured quarters. 



8 At noon, water was seen for the first time trickling 

 down a cliff with a southern aspect, but on reaching 

 the colder ground at the foot it again froze into ice. 

 The temperature in the shade during the afternoon rose 

 to 17°. 



' llth. — Mr. Wootton, commanding a sledge crew 

 with the remainder of Commander Markham's provi- 

 sions, left to-day for Cape Joseph Henry. On the 

 completion of this duty all our travellers will be pro- 

 vided for. I have, therefore, started off Captain 

 Feilden with Mr. Egerton, Frederick and James Self 

 and six dogs, for an excursion amongst the United 

 States Eange of hills. Mr. Mitchell accompanies them 

 with a few dry photographic plates. We trust that 

 they will discover the musk-oxen haunts, for we are 



