VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
41 
variety, elegance of shape, and apparent execution, 
as if just from the hands of the sculptor. They 
were of the densest ice, of transparent blue, and 
as hard as marble. Some represented vases, which 
for classical structure, might have done credit to 
the taste of the artist ; indeed, I am persuaded of 
the advantage that would arise to the fine arts among 
us, if an artist of taste were to take accurate sketches 
of the endless variety exhibited in the arctic seas. 
On my return to the ship, I killed several birds, 
already described ; and two of the Lari eburnei. 
Ivory-gulls or snow-birds. The bill and lip of this 
gull, is of lead colour ; length, from the tip of the 
beak to the end of the tail, sixteen inches ; extent 
of wings, thirty-seven inches. This beautiful bird 
is seldom seen far from the ice, and is of the purest 
white, the primariesbeingslightly tinged with pink ; 
the eye large, jet-black and sparkling, fringed, 
with a crimson lid. Lat. IT North. Saw severak 
Greenland doves, Columbus CvylU, Linn., and one, 
strange to say, settled on the fore-top-gallant-yard, 
and was caught by a seaman. Its length, fourteen 
inches ; extent of wing, twenty-two inches ; weight, 
fifteen ounces ; the bill black, slender, and pointed ; 
the whole plumage, glossy black, except a large 
patch of white on the coverts of the wings. 
In consequence of some fresh difficulties 
May 17. during the night, and the season 
being late for getting to the north, it was now con- 
sidered prudent to abandon our intention of going 
to Spitzbergen ; a resolve which I really regretted. 
