NO. 4.] THE FIRST SUMMER IN THE ICE. 21 



On May 13th, 1894, the first bird of the year was seen in the 

 neighbourhood of the ship by Nansen and Johansen. It was either a gull 

 (a kittiwake or an ivory gull) or a fulmar, but it was too far off to allow 

 of its being determined with certainty. It flew over the ship towards the 

 NNW., and was hailed as a messenger of spring. 



On May 19th, at three in the afternoon, a gull was again heard. The 

 weather was foggy, so that the bird could not be seen; but from its shrill 

 querulous ciy, it could be certainly recognised as belonging to this species. 

 It also flew northwards, after flying once round the vessel. On the fol- 

 lowing day, a bird was again seen (possibly the one of the preceding day), 

 and it flew southwards. 



On May 23rd was heard the unmistakable cry of an ivory gull, flying 

 NW. or NNW. ; but the bird itself was not seen, as the atmosphere was 

 thick with a wet fog. On June 2nd, two birds came, and after flying two or 

 three times round the ship, flew away; but they returned, and remained 

 for some time in the neighbourhood of the ship. 



On June 5th, five P. eburnea came flying up from the south, and 

 more followed during the day. One of these was shot — the first bird 

 after the winter. 



On June 6th, ivory gulls were seen often and at various times. They 

 seemed to be attracted by the refuse-heaps, but did not appear to have any 

 fixed course. During the few days following, several more were seen (on 

 the night of June 7th, two together; on the night of June 8th, a flock of six), 

 all of which flew due north. 



On June 22nd, four were seen together, flying towards the NW. On 

 June 25th, a few more appeared, and one of them was shot by Sverdrup. 



Throughout July, ivory gulls, as well as Fulmarus and Bissa, were 

 seen frequently, though the particular occasions were not noted down. A few 

 were also seen in August; but after the 23rd of that month, the channels 

 round the ship froze up, and no more birds were seen that year. 



All the specimens observed seemed to be in adult plumage. They ap- 

 peared to live in a great measure on blubber, and preferred to keep near places 

 where bears had been skinned. They often alighted on the ice, and were 

 not very shy, though more so here on the ice by the 'Fram', than they 



