246 ADVENTURES IN THE NORTHERN SEAS. 



course to a more reputable mode of life to obtain a 

 subsistence. 



The sailors are very fond of playing off a certain 

 practical joke on the gulls which are always hover- 

 ing about the ships. The trick is this: you take 

 three or four pieces of sail-twine, of a fathom or so 

 in length, tie them all together in the middle, and 

 to the end of each tightly attach a small piece of 

 blubber, then throw the whole into the sea ; a gull 

 comes and swallows one piece; another then sees 

 there is plenty to spare, and swallows the next; 

 perhaps a third gull takes possession of another ; 

 but as they are all attached to one another by the 

 sail-yarns, whenever they try to fly away, one party 

 or another is perforce compelled to disgorge his 

 share ; and this is continued at the expense of the 

 poor gulls alternately, to the great amusement of 

 the sailors. 



It seems to me that an attentive study of the 

 Arctic Fauna is capable of throwing great light 

 upon some debated questions in Natural History. 



I am aware that I am now treading upon very 

 dangerous ground, and that what I say will be se- 

 verely criticised; but I will "take a header" into 

 the deep waters of controversy at once, and unhesi- 

 tatingly avow my belief that an attentive study of 

 the Arctic animals is capable of mightily strength- 

 ening the theory of progressive development, first 

 suggested by the illustrious Lamarck, and since so 

 ably expounded and defended, under somewhat 



