30 CAPT. H. W. FEILDEN ON THE BIRDS OF (Jan. 16, 
reached on the 25th of August: 81°44’. There we saw several 
examples of Tringa canutus in small flocks, evidently migrating 
south. These birds were already in winter plumage. I also observed 
several Turnstones. On the 26th of August I found eight or ten 
pairs of Sterna macrura breeding on a small islet at the entrance to 
Discovery Bay. The land by this date was covered with autumn 
snow; but I found a downy living young one in a nest from which 
the old birds had scooped out the snow and piled around the depres- 
sion. Sept. Ist, 1875, I observed a single Ivory Gull flying round 
the ship in Lincoln Bay; and during a pelting snow-storm, as we 
rounded Cape Union in 82° 15’ a single Strepsilas interpres hovered 
for a short time under the lee of our ship. On that day we attained 
our highest northern latitude in the vessel, viz. 82° 28’; and as we 
ran in for shelter from the pack, between the shore and the grounded 
hummocks I saw a family party of Harelda glacialis,7 or 8 in 
number, seated on a small piece of ice. Landing, I waded knee- 
deep through soft snow which then covered the shore, but failed 
to get a shot. I also saw a fine Larus glaucus, which I tried to 
stalk in vain. Sept. 2, a single Dovekie (Uria grylle) flew past 
the ship, flying south, the last of this species observed that year. 
Sept. 5th, Markham and Aldrich, at Dumbell Harbour, in lat. 82° 
30’, came across 11 Eiders, three old females and their uecdai ina 
tide-crack. They killed five with their rifles, but were not able to get 
hold of any of them, the ice around the crack being too treacherous. 
They also observed a single Turnstone. Sept. 19th, a pair of 
Harelda glacialis alighted in a pool near the ship and were ob- 
tained. Sept. 29th, near Point Hercules, in lat. 82° 40’, the autumn 
sledgers observed four Lagopus rupestris in winter plumage. Oct. 
2nd, I observed a Snowy Owl seated on the top of a hummock, 
about a mile from our winter quarters. After this over five months 
elapsed before any feathered creature reappeared; but in the afternoon 
of the 11th March, 1876, the quartermaster on watch reported three 
white birds as having flown past the ship. They were probably 
Lagopus rupestris, as a few days after, on the 17th, tracks of these 
birds were observed in the snow at various points within a few miles 
of the ship. On the 29th March Lieut. Parr saw a Snowy Owl, 
very wild. Onthe 13th May, 1876, I heard the first Snow-Bunting 
(Plectrophanes nivalis), as we lay in our tent on the floe at the base 
of a cliff. The note came from above, clear and musical, and each 
inmate of the tent started into a sitting posture, and said “‘ Hush, 
hush, do you hear it?’’ One of the sailors said to me, ‘‘ What 
bird is that, sir? it is sweeter than a throstle”’ On the return of 
the northern sledge-party, Lieut. Parr on the 27th May met with a 
straggling Snow-Bunting near to the 83° of N. lat. So this species 
can claim for itself the highest northern range yet recorded of any 
bird. June 5th, whilst travelling in lat. 82° 33’, I observed the 
first Knots, Sanderlings, and Turnstones ; a flock of Brent Geese 
passed over our heads. June 6th, noticed first Long-tailed Skuas 
(Stercorarius longicaudatus). June 24th, noticed first Somateria 
spectabilis. 
