Jan'y 19 (No 6)
in a broad stretch of open water off Long Island
I think there were two others among some
Golden-eyes which we saw outside the outer island
but they were two far from us to be certainly
identified.
  The Black Duck was standing on a small                                                      
cake of ice directly in the channel near Fort
Minthorp. This was the only Duck of any kind
that was seen on the ice.
[margin]Black Duck[/margin]
  To our great disappointment no Guillermots,                                                      
Auks, Puffins, Loons or Greebes were observed
during this trip. ( In this connection consult
Journal for Jan'y 24th 1879 relating to a similar
trip down Boston Habor when several of these
birds were met with).
[margin]Absence of
Guillermots
Auks etc.[/margin]
  The most picturesque & interesting animals of                                                  
all remain to be mentioned. These were the
Seals of which we saw at least 25, most of
them on the ice in bunches of from three to
half a dozen individuals. Five which occupied
a cake floating in mid-channel near Fort Minthrop
allowed us to get within eighty yards or less. They
lay huddled close together one or two resting
their heads on there companions backs as on sees
groups of seals represented in pictures of Arctic
scenes. Three, evidently Harbor Seals, were of a
light grayish color, the largest animal being nearly
white on the back and looking, as someone suggested,
[margin]Seals[/margin]