18 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
The harbour that we had reached appeared so admirably 
suited for a ship's winter-quarters that Captain Nares decided to 
leave the ‘Discovery’ there, and, in consequence, this large inlet 
was named Discovery Bay. The ‘Alert’ quitted her consort on 
the 26th August; but owing to the mouth of the harbour being 
blockaded by heavy pack-ice it was a couple of days before we lost 
sight of the masts of the ‘ Discovery,’ and were again fairly in the 
channel. By that date the short summer of the Polar zone had 
come to an end, the temperature of the air throughout the day 
sunk below freezing-point, the few species of birds that make 
those regions their breeding-haunts were hurrying south, whilst 
the streams, rivulets, and marshes were frozen over. A few small 
bands of Knots and Turnstones were seen winging their way 
southward, following the coast-line, and associated with them 
were parties of Snow Buntings. 
Somewhat to my surprise, on a small islet just at the entrance 
of Discovery Bay, we found some eight pairs of the Arctic Tern, 
Sterna macrura, breeding, and a newly-hatched young one in a 
nest surrounded by snow; but Admiral Richards, when sledging 
in Belcher Channel, in 77° 8’ N., on August 29th, 1852, likewise 
found a colony of these birds nesting, and three young ones 
unfledged in their nests. 
On the 28th August the rudder of the ‘ Alert’ was so injured 
by contact with the ice that the ship was run alongside of the 
shore-ice in the most sheltered position obtainable and the spare 
rudder fitted. Whilst we were thus employed a small party 
of five Musk-oxen were seen on shore, and several of us started 
in pursuit, eventually securing three of the animals. I there 
met with an accident which might have had serious consequences, 
but, fortunately, was only productive of a laugh against me. 
One of the Musk-oxen, a young animal about three years old, 
being badly wounded, separated from the herd. Following it 
alone I came up with it in a valley where the deep snow hampered 
its progress. Another shot fired brought it to a standstill. 
When I got alongside of it the animal put its head to the ground 
and came towards me, but stopped when I struck his muzzle 
with my gun. Reflecting that we were some three miles from the 
ship, and the intervening ground very rough, and deep in places 
with snow, it struck me it would be an excellent thing if I could 
induce the wounded animal to transport its own carcase to the 
