Animal Life in Nova Zembla. 279 



Among the web-footed birds which pass the season here the Saatgans 

 are so common, at least in the southern island, that the collecting their 

 fallen wing-feathers is an object of profit; the Ice-duck (Anas glacialis) 

 is frequent, and the Singing Swan (Cygnus musicus) not rare. 



According to the assertions of the Walrus-catchers, only one species 

 of goose comes to Nova Zembla, and we in fact got sight of no other 

 than the Saatgans and the Brent Bernicle (Anser torquatus), which lat- 

 ter however does not pass for a goose among the Russians. The Eider 

 duck or Eider goose is also not rare. The web-footed herbivorous 

 birds however collect in much greater numbers upon the island of 

 Kolgujew, which is described as covered with swans and geese, than in 

 Nova Zembla, where the vegetation is too scanty. On this account 

 expeditions are sometimes sent hither to kill and salt these birds. A 

 merchant of Archangel told me that once 15,000 geese were killed here 

 in two hunts. 



To the web-footed birds of Nova Zembla belong moreover Uria Troile 

 (in unspeakable numbers), Uria Grylle, Colymbus septentrionalis, Sterna 

 Hirundo, Larus glaucus, Larus canus, Larus tridactylus, Lestris catarractes, a 

 Procettaria, which we however could not procure. Somateria spectabilis 

 and Larus eburneus are stated to occur only on the northern coast. 

 There also, according to the descriptions we heard, is probably found 

 Mormon Fratercula and Mergulus Alle. It appeared very singular to me 

 that no one had seen, south of Kostin-Schar, a bird of the family of 

 Alcadce, as Aha Pica does not belong to the most northern birds, and 

 even Mormon Fratercula occurs on the Norwegian coast. 



There is no trace of the whole class of Amphibia in Nova Zembla. 

 The Batrachia and Sauria evidently cannot exist for want of insects. 

 Of fish, the extreme north, even where very rich in individuals, con- 

 tains generally but very few species, and partly for this reason, be- 

 cause the fresh water does not possess its peculiar forms so numerous 

 in warmer regions, but only the fish that ascend from the sea at certain 

 periods. Thus Scoresby says of Spitzbergen and of the neighbouring 

 sea, that it has but four kinds of fish. My catalogue of the fish of 

 Nova Zembla contains ten, all of which, with the exception of the 

 Omul (Salmo Omal, Pall.), which is said to occur on the east coast, we 

 have ourselves seen. Among these the most important is the Alpine 

 trout (Golez — Salmo alpinus, Fabr.), which ascends in autumn into the 

 mountain lakes, and in many years is caught in immense quantities 

 and exported to distant countries. All the other fish are inconsi- 

 derable or of no value for commerce, and even in the ceconomy of na- 

 ture only Gadus Saida, Sep., and Cyclopterus Liparis are of any import- 

 ance. 



