123 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the afternoon, the thermometer rose to 50° in the shade, the 

 highest temperature recorded during the voyage north of lat. 70°. 

 In the evening, water was discovered over the ice to the S.W., 

 and, after a few hours' boring through close pack, we entered 

 wide water surrounded on all sides by ice. A few large Finners 

 {B. sihhalclii) seen pla3'ing about in the morning. 



July 4th. Lay about becalmed all day in our " polynia," 

 clear, cloudless, and warm. The water, although clear and 

 cerulean, contained a fair quantity of Avhales' food. Narwhals 

 were very numerous, lying about at the surface in almost every 

 direction, the sunshine glistening on their backs. Three were 

 killed,* and one was lost. I found their stomachs and intestines 

 on this, as on every other occasion I have examined them, to 

 contain nothing but the undigested portions of a small species of 

 cephelapod, principally the hard mandibles and eyes.t Floe-rats 

 also numerous, most of them lying asleep on very small pieces 

 of ice ; many of them, with their bodies firm and rigid, their 

 hind flippers clasped together, were lying on one side, supported 

 only at a single point, a somewhat unstable and curious attitude 

 of repose. Mallemokes, especially the white kind, numerous ; 

 also a few other birds. Looms, Botches, Dovekies, a solitary 

 Arctic Puffin, Snow-birds, a few Skuas, and several Arctic Terns. 



July 5th. Narwhals very numerous ; the males, easily 

 distinguished by their horns, were lying about sunning them- 

 selves at the surface ; the females, with their young, keeping by 

 themselves, were generally seen swimming about. 



July 7th. Our " polynia," at first circular and circumscribed, 

 had now become continuous with the open sea to the N.E., and 

 had extended itself many miles to the S.W. along the edge of 

 the fast ice. At the bottom of this great cid de sac we found the 

 water clear and blue, with a general absence of life. An 

 occasional Finner, B. sibbaldii, however, was seen coming from 

 the S.W., and, passing us, would continue its way to the N.E. 

 While sitting in the " crow's-nest" several passed within a short 

 distance of the ship, and, the water being smooth and very clear, I 

 enjoj^ed a rare opportunity of watching their movements while 



■'•■ A few measiiremeuts obtained will be found appended. 



I One entire specimen was obtained. Tlirougli the kindness of Mr. Sidney 

 F. Harmer, of King's College, Cambridge, it was submitted to Mr. "W. E. 

 Hoyle, who had no hesitation in referring it to Gonatus Fabricii (Licht.). 



