48 COLLETT AND NANSEN. ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS, [norw. pol. EXP. 



Above Spitsbergen they were more numerous, though few in comparison 

 with the ivory gull. 



On May 26th, small flocks of six were seen two or three times hovering 

 over the channels in the ice, the first observed that year. On May 30th, 

 some specimens were again seen (83° 50' N. Lat). 



After this they were seen frequently, and several specimens, all old and 

 full-coloured, were shot. 



Bhodostethia rosea, (Macg.) 1824. 



The roseate gull was also seen from the 'Fram' in the summer of 1895, 

 but in a higher latitude than Nansen and Johansen had found it (p. 26). 



The first specimen was observed by Mogstad on July 18th, when the 

 ship was in 84° 41' N. Lat., 74o 30' E. Long. On July 19th, another was 

 seen by Mogstad and Sverdrup together, when they were out seal-hunting. 

 The bird flew within 15 or 20 paces of them. Both specimens were fully 

 coloured, and all the characteristic marks of the species were observed. 



The next specimen was seen on July 22nd, by Scott-Hansen (84° 36' 

 N. Lat.); and lastly, single specimens were seen on the 4th, 9th and 11th 

 August, one of them being shot at by Mogstad, but without success. The 

 last specimen was seen by Blessing during a sfc^-expedition on August 

 16th (84° 27'). 



Thus altogether seven specimens were observed that year between the 

 middle of July and the middle of August, all fully coloured. Young birds 

 were not observed with certainty. 



The species was not observed north of Spitsbergen during the last 

 summer (1896). 



Xema saMni, (Sab.) 1818. 



A gull with a black head was observed by Mogstad one day in July, 

 1896, in about 83° N. Lat., when the 'Fram', with steam up, had begun to 



to collect algm, saw a specimen of a Gcadus lying motionless in front of a projecting 

 piece of ice in a channel; but it disappeared under the ice like lightning when he at- 

 tempted to come near it. Its length was about 120 mm. No other fish has hitherto 

 been observed so far north as this. This species is known to Norwegian sealers by 

 the name of "Is-Mort", Mort being the general name for the young of various species 

 of G-adus. 



