108 THE ZOOLOGIS‘. 
the provisions left there, and thoroughly explore the neigh- 
bourhood of that locality, Captain Nares having granted us 
permission to be absent from the ship for one week. On this 
occasion we took no sledge, as travelling over the floes was 
not to be depended on, but carried our ammunition—a change of 
under clothing and collecting gear—on our backs, the equipment 
amounting to 28 lbs. in weight for each of us. 
The stream in the first ravine north of winter-quarters was 
still running strong; we selected the widest and shallowest place 
for crossing, but though only half way up our thighs it was quite 
as much as we could do to retain our foothold. The water was 
bitterly cold, and we were nearly benumbed on reaching the 
opposite bank; after wringing out our wet garments, we pro- 
ceeded. In the bottom of the next ravine we descried two Brent 
Geese and a flock of twenty-eight Knots feeding, but they were 
very wild, and rose long before we got within shot. The 
temperature was tolerable and the travelling excellent, as we 
kept along the gravel ridges parallel to the shore, which marked 
the lines of upheaval of old sea-beaches. The next broad 
stream reached we flanked by going out on the floe; and, as it 
was low-tide, the water nowhere lay deeper than a foot. Near 
Mushroom Point we came upon a pair of Buffon’s Skuas 
breeding, and took their two eggs. ‘The audacity of this bird is 
surprising ; when near the nest they attacked us with the greatest 
vigour, darting at our heads; and not until I had struck 
the hen bird a rap with my gun-barrel did she cease from her 
assaults. 
The scanty flora, at that time bursting into bloom, excited 
our interest and attention. Accustomed as we are in England 
never to be without the sight of vegetation throughout the year, 
it is difficult to realize, until it becomes a fact, the enormous 
deprivation involved in the entire absence of leaf, flower or shrub, 
for ten months out of the twelve. I can hardly describe the 
pleasure we felt in seeing the delicate green leaves of the willow, 
the yellow blossoms of the poppy, the diminutive flowers of the 
Drabas, and, above all, those of the most wide-spread and abundant 
of Arctic plants, the purple saxifrage. That lovely flower, then 
at the very height of its bloom, coloured purple some of the 
brows and banks which we traversed. 
(To be continued.) 
