VOYAGE TO GREENLAND. 
107 
brim, and, observing this small aperture, made all 
sail, and succeeded in passing through it just before 
it closed ; we continued our course to the westward, 
and at four o’clock saw a whale near the edge of 
the ice. Several boats were sent in pursuit, but re- 
turned about eight o’clock without having seen it 
again. While absent from the ship in this service, 
I witnessed a sight of much interest to a lover of 
falconry, in the attack of an arctic gull, (Lams 
Parisiticus, Linn), upon a kittywake. My attention 
was first directed to it by a screaming at a great 
height in the air, and at a considerable distance. I 
observed a sharp conflict for upwards of a quarter 
of an hour, during which, many bold stoops were 
made by the gull, and they were as beautifully 
evaded by the superior aerial movements and dex- 
terity of the kittywake ; I never beheld a finer or 
more active flight at a heron, which it very much 
resembled. About nine o’clock a whale rose in the 
midst of our little fleet, which now consisted of five 
ships; boats being instantly lowered from each, 
rowed to that part of the ice under which the fish 
swam, and took their stations against its return. 
After waiting some time, the old fishing stratagem 
was put in practice by the boat’s crews of two con- 
federate ships : the crew of one of the boats com- 
menced the plan usually adopted on seeing a whale,, 
that is, the harpooner quickly sitting down, takes 
his oar, and the boat is rowed with the greatest 
speed, in the expectation that all the rest will follow, 
leaving the favourable situation open, when boats 
belonging to the confederate party avail themselves 
