112 Mr Scoresby on the Currents and Animalcules 
ing point, and subject to be frozen, on some occasions at least, 
during every month of the year. 
In an extract from the “ Account of the Arctic Regions,’"^ 
which appeared in the 2d Volume of the Edinburgh Philosophi- 
cal Journal, there was a notice of these animalcules, and of a 
minute species of Medusa. In connection with these facts, I have 
now to present a few more particulars respecting multitudes of 
animalcules, observed in the Greenland Sea during the present 
summer, together with some remarks on an extraordinary super- 
ficial current. 
On the 29th and 30th of July last, being surrounded with 
ice-fields, at no great distance from the coast of West Green- 
land, a little to the northward of the part first discovered by 
Henry Hudson in 1607, some interesting appearances were ob- 
served in the sea. A singular superficial current, extending on- 
ly to the depth of a few feet, first engaged my attention. By 
the action of this, all the smaller pieces of ice, of which there 
was a great quantity near, were carried towards the north, at 
the rate of more than a mile an hour ; but such pieces as had a 
depth of 8 or 10 feet or upwards, were not sensibly affected by 
it. Then the fields and floes around, which were very ponde- 
rous, seemed to be at rest, and even the ship'’s course was a little 
affected by it, as compared with the heavy ice ; but as regarded 
the thinnest pieces, the apparent lee-way of the ship was two or 
three points. In consequence of this, the ship was repeatedly 
struck by the ice under the influence of the current, and her 
progress much retarded by it. This partial current was the 
more extraordinary, as it occurred during a calm that had pre- 
vailed above two days. 
In the same situation where this current was observed, we 
sailed for several leagues in water of a very uncommon appear- 
ance. The surface was variegated by large patches, and exten- 
sive streaks of a yellowish-green colour ; having the appearance 
of an admixture with flowers of sulphur or mustard. When- 
ever the ship passed through any of this peculiar water, the 
patch or streak was divided, and did not again unite ; from 
which circumstance, the colouring matter was found to be quite 
superficial. Suspecting it to be of an animal nature, a quantity 
of the yellowisli-green water was procured, and, on examination. 
