A VOYAGE TO SPlXZBEEGEN, ETC. 167 



this species, which breeds so abundantly in Spitzbergen, and on 

 Bear Island, should entirely pass by the whole Scandinavian 

 Peninsula, and form an isolated colony on our remote isle of St. 

 Kilda. They breed also in the Faeroes. Its egg is large and 

 white. 



17. Colymbus septentrionalis. — A single adult specimen flew 

 close past our boat on the night of 27th July, in Ice Fjord; but 

 I was too tired to trouble with him, having just returned from 

 a stalking expedition of twenty-two hours continuous hard walk- 

 ing, and carrying the meat of a fat Eeindeer Buck great part of 

 the time. • 



AXCID^. 



I now come to the Rock fowl, whose astounding numbers I 

 have already attempted to describe. They are of four species, 

 as follows : — 



18. Uria Bruennichi. — This is perhaps the most numerous 

 species in Spitzbergen, though the immense numbers of Mergulus 

 alle run it a close race for that position. These large Guillemots 

 have huge Loomeries in most of the high cliffs, and thousands 

 are always in sight, swimming and diving in the Sounds, or 

 studding the drift-ice with quaint upright forms. The IS'or- 

 wegians salted down hundreds of them in barrels for home use, 

 and we had ''Loom Soup" daily, which I remember we con- 

 sidered passable, at least in the Arctic seas. We saw the first 

 young birds in the water on August 2nd. 



19. Uria Mandti. — This pretty little bird was nearly always 

 in sight, sitting tamely close to the ship, resting on floating 

 pieces of ice, or diving in the open spaces between them. It 

 was not nearly so numerous as the former species. Though 

 specifically discriminated from U. grylle by scientific writers, it 

 differs in no essential particular from the " Tystie" of Shetland. 



20. Fratercula glacialis. — The large Arctic Puffin was com- 

 paratively scarce. Still a few could generally be detected among 

 the swarming hordes of other sea fowl, the bright red colour on 

 the bill being very conspicuous. 



