386 FARTHEST NORTH 



to be a specially chosen member of the flock that has 

 these hospitable duties to perform. I am inclined 

 to think it is the leader, who is asserting his dignity, 

 and wishes to impress upon every new-comer that he 

 is to be obeyed. These animals must be exceedingly 

 sociable, when, in spite of such treatment, they thus 

 constantly seek one another's society, and always lie 

 close together. When we returned a little later to 

 look at them another had arrived, and by the follow- 

 ing morning six lay there side by side. It is not 

 easy to believe that these lumps lying on the ice are 

 living animals. W^ith head drp.wn in and hind-legs flat 

 beneath the body, they will lie motionless hour after 

 hour, looking like enormous sausages. It is easy to see 

 that these fellows lie there in security, and fearful of 

 nothing in the world. 



After having seen as much as we wanted of the wal- 

 ruses at close quarters, we went back, prepared a good 

 meal from the newly slaughtered bear, and lay down to 

 sleep. On the shore below the tent, the ivory-gulls were 

 making a fearful hubbub. They had gathered in scores 

 from all quarters, and could not agree as to the fair 

 division of the bear's entrails; they fought incessantly, 

 filling the air with their angry cries. It is one of nature's 

 unaccountable freaks to have made this bird so pretty, 

 while giving it such an ugly voice. At a little distance 

 the burgomasters sat solemnly looking on and uttering 

 their somewhat more melodious notes. Out in the sea 



