APPENDIX III. 481 



before there was any open water ; even, indeed, before the thaw had set 

 in. Their nests were found on islets in the sea or rivers, and on the 

 great plains. Every year there were large numbers of these geese which 

 did not breed, probably young birds of the previous year. Later in the 

 summer these birds lost their flight feathers, and for a time were unable 

 to fly. At the* same time those which had young ones were able to fly 

 perfectly well, and did not show the slightest sign of losing their power 

 of flight. I once observed something similar to this in the bernicle 

 goose (Bernicla leucopsis) on the east coast of Greenland. The brent 

 geese leave in the autumn as soon as the fjords begin to freeze over. 



The eider-duck (Somateria mollissima} is to be seen everywhere on 

 these coasts as soon as there are splits in the ice in the spring. Its food 

 consists mainly of the prickly and little attractive sea-urchin. The nests 

 are sometimes found singly, scattered about on the shore, sometimes 

 on islets in the rivers (now and then far up the valleys), and sometimes 

 on the small islands. Thus numerous eiders breed on St. Helena and 

 Djaeveloen, which were the only bird-islands met with by the expedition. 

 The eiders remain in the autumn as long as there is the smallest amount 

 of open water. This is partly because the broods do not begin to fly 

 until very late in the season. Eider-duck were seen as late as 

 October 17, 1901, in a creek at Ytre Eidet in Hvalrosfjord. Somewhat 

 less common than the ordinary eider, but still very frequently to be met 

 with, was the king eider (Somateria spectabiUs), the nests of which, how- 

 ever, were never found, although it must certainly breed in these 

 parts, as it was seen about the whole summer. Still another kind of 

 duck, the long-tailed duck (Hardda glacialis), was common, and its nest 

 was often found near freshwater lakes. 



Now and then was heard and seen a red-throated diver (Colymbus 

 septentrionalis), but this bird was not common. It was shot twice, both 

 times in Gaasefjord. 



Among the wading birds were a certain number of sandpipers, of 

 which the knot (Trinya canutus) was the most noteworthy. It bred, 

 among other places, at the head of Gaasefjord, where its young were 

 found when quite small, though unfortunately no eggs were found. 

 Of other waders may be mentioned the turnstone (Strepsilas interpres), 

 which was very common in the summer. 



Of guillemots were : the little auk (Arctica alle), Briinnich's guille- 

 mot (Uria arra), and the black guillemot (U. (jrylle). The former was 

 commonest in Kane Basin, where numbers of them were shot on several 

 occasions. In Jones Sound, however, this bird was very uncommon, 

 even if it was really seen at all. Briinnich's guillemot was most common 

 in the neighbourhood of Cobourg Island, where it certainly nests ; 

 otherwise it was not often seen. The black guillemot was everywhere 



VOL. II. 2 I 



