NOTES FROM AN ARCTIC JOURNAL. 163 
flocks of a dozen or more of these birds feeding together, and 
sprung them singly and in pairs from marshy spots, yet they gave 
no indication of having nests anywhere in the neighbourhood. 
On the expiration of our week’s leave Mr. Parr and I returned 
to the ship. Captain Markham and a party of four officers, who 
had also gone on a shooting expedition, were far more successful 
than my companion and I. They obtained two or three Musk- 
oxen and a considerable number of Brent Geese. They did not 
return to the ship until the 24th. During the last two weeks 
of July every hour that could be spared from the preparations 
incident to our expected departure was spent in wandering over 
the country and endeavouring to add to our knowledge of its 
resources. A few species of Spiders, some Acaridea, and a few 
Diptera, were the only additions made to my collection. 
The 80th July proved cloudy, with snow. Three of our men 
taking exercise on shore, not far from a small lake, were attracted 
by the actions of a Knot which appeared very tame. Harley,* one 
of them, threw a stone at it, but the bird only flew a short distance. 
He threw another stone, and that time knocked it over, when it 
began calling. Its note brought out three little ones from amongst 
the vegetation by the water’s edge. The pleasure of obtaining 
proof of the breeding of Tinga canutus in those latitudes was 
increased by the good feeling displayed by the men. They evinced 
quite as much delight as I did with the capture. This, however, 
was only on a par with my experiences throughout the whole of 
the voyage. The old bird proved, on dissection, to be a male; its 
stomach contained Spiders and Diptera, and it was extremely fat. 
The young ones had the iris black; tip of mandibles dark brown ; 
bill dark olive; toes black; soles of feet greenish yellow; back 
of the legs the same; under part of throat satin-white; back 
beautifully mottled tortoiseshell. 
On the 31st July the pack outside moved off shore, leaving a 
narrow space of water visible as far as Cape Rawson. A few heavy 
charges of powder removed the last of the ice-cradle, and the ship 
was once more afloat. The passage of Robeson Channel was 
extremely perilous; it was only by a combination of consummate 
skill, audacity, and good luck that it was effected. On August 3rd 
we were hemmed in by the ice, and nearly pushed on to the land, 
* This worthy petty-officer was lost in the ‘EHurydice’ off the Isle of Wiglit, 
March, 1878, 
