208 APPENDIX. No. III. 



settled down to nesting it was no easy matter to get within 

 gunshot range. 



1. FALCO CANDICANS. The Greenland falcon, though seen 

 on several occasions, was not procured by us in Smith Sound. 

 Mr. Hart noticed a pair of these, birds nesting in the lime- 

 stone cliffs near Cape Hayes, Grinnell Land (lat. 79 42' N.), 

 but was unable to secure a specimen. From this point to 

 our most northern extreme this falcon was not observed by 

 any member of the Expedition. On August 24, 1876, near 

 Cape Frazer (lat. 79 44 X N.), when on our return south- 

 wards, a bird of this species flew round our vessels. The 

 following morning, when on shore between Cape Hayes and 

 Cape Napoleon, I saw a magnificent example of F. candicans 

 seated on a rock ; it permitted me to get within seventy 

 or eighty yards, but I failed in procuring it. 



2. NICTEA SCANDIACA. The snowy owl is a common 

 spring and summer migrant to the northern part of Grinnell 

 Land. On October 2, 1875, I observed an individual of this 

 species seated on a hummock in the vicinity of our winter- 

 quarters (lat. 82 27' N.). On March 29, 1876, an example 

 was seen by Lieutenant Parr some three miles north of the 

 ship. On May 1 5, whilst travelling up a valley (lat. 82 40' N.) 

 in Grinnell Land, our party disturbed a snowy owl from the 

 ground. Subsequently this species was not unfrequently 

 observed; a pair seemed commonly to breed in each large 

 valley running down to the sea-shore. On June 24 we found 

 a snowy owl's nest containing seven eggs (lat. 82 33' N.) ; 

 the nest was a mere hollow scooped out of the earth, and 

 situated on the summit of an eminence which rose from the 

 centre of the valley. Several other nests were found in the 

 vicinity of our winter-quarters, at one time there were six or 

 seven fine young birds caged on board. In the vicinity of 

 Discovery Bay (lat. 81 44' N.) this owl bred abundantly. 

 During the month of August, while proceeding southwards, 

 it was no uncommon circumstance to see one or more of 

 these birds occupying a conspicuous post on the bold head- 

 lands we were passing under. By the end of the month all 



