86 VISIT TO SPITZBERGEN 



water on W. side of the Bay.) Capt., Dr., and I in skiff 

 to Alkenhorn ; on way found Semmoline coming in, 

 boarded her, she had been in the ice and knocked off 

 some of her sheathing which would have to be replaced. 

 Ludwig found an egg of Fulmar carried off and sucked 

 by a Skua or Glaucous. Coming back a seal followed us ; 

 Dr. and I gave him three barrels each, when he splashed 

 about and we were lucky enough to get him into the 

 boat ; the small species, Phoca fatida or hispida, about 

 4 ft. long. In evening Dr. and I to Swedish schooner to 

 consult Malmgren as to species of seal. As I was getting 

 on board the dinghy slipped away before I had hold of 

 accommodation ladder and down I went ; water not so 

 cold as I should have thought (36), and as I kept my pipe 

 in my mouth I lost nothing.* Went back to yacht and 

 changed. Duner and Nordenskjold called to inquire how 

 I was and brought some Terns' eggs. They sat talking 

 and drinking grog till late. Heard from them a good 

 deal about the N., which they had surveyed some years 

 before. N. recommends our going there for Walrus. 



July 16. None the worse for my ducking. On shore 

 on E. side of Haven to get fossils. Ludwig walked over 

 ridge and came back having found a nest of Anser 

 brachyrhynchm, 2 young just hatched ; bad luck. Also 

 a breeding-place, accessible, of Little Auk. Sent Ludwig 

 off again to try and shoot old Geese. Dr. shot and missed, 

 brought young birds. (N.B., they have each a few 

 feathers on their feet !) The Swedes left about midnight ; 

 Lorange and M. S. on board to see the last of them for 

 some hours. They came home singing and were not 

 easily prevailed upon to go to bed. M. S. humbugged 

 Malmgren into the belief that he also was an egg-collector 

 and got some given him : Glaucous, Pink-footed Goose, 

 and also a very fine pair of Deer horns. 



July 17, Sunday. Tried to hire Tromso boat to go to 

 Coal Bay to look for Phalaropes, but they insisted on 



* He said afterwards that this was the only action of his life of which he 

 was proud. " Most men," he said, " would at least have opened their 

 mouths to say ' Ah ! ' ' 



