317 
Voyage to Davis’ Straits. 
Our situation was by no means safe ; for we were inclosed in 
such a manner by the ice, that a passage in any direction was 
quite impracticable; and had the wind blown with violence, 
(which rarely happens where there is much ice), our situation 
might have been very precarious. After having spent a few 
days with much anxiety, we were fortunately relieved from this 
embarrassment by the separation of the ice, of which we gladly 
availed ourselves to get into open water. 
All apprehension of shipwreck having vanished, I return 
with pleasure to the contemplation of those various animated 
productions with which the Arctic seas are so plentifully fur- 
nished. In Lat 75°, we met with a “ run 1 ’ of Sea Unicorns, 
( Monodon monoceros). They are gregarious, moving slowly 
along the surface by an undulating motion. The skin is smooth 
and soft, like that of the whale, but of a white colour, intermix- 
ed with black, very much resembling some variety of marble. 
They are very quick sighted, and, therefore, with difficulty 
taken. One which we killed by the stroke of a harpoon, mea- 
sured about 10 feet. The twisted horn or tooth which project- 
ed from the extremity of the upper jaw, measured 5 feet. 
Here the water teemed with mollusca of different kinds, said 
to be the natural food of whales and other cetacem. The more 
numerous was a species of Clio, about an inch in length, moving 
horizontally through the water by means of two fins of a conical 
shape, which it throws from side to side. Equally abundant 
was another small roundish black coloured insect, about the size 
of a pea. Jt is inclosed in a remarkably thin shell, and turns by 
means of two fins, which are protruded from its orifice. A small 
medusa was likewise very plentiful. When taken in the hand, 
being of a very soft gelatinous texture, it immediately lost a con- 
siderable portion of its substance ; yet still retained its original 
form and vitality. It is of an octagonal form, and moves through 
the water by a tremulous motion, observable only at the angles 
which are ciliated, exhibiting at the latter part the most brilliant 
colours. 
I do not recollect of having any where seen so many of those 
birds named Little Auks (Alca alle ), as among the ice betwixt 
the latitudes of 74° and 76°. The water in many places, for a 
considerable space, was literally covered by them ; and occasion- 
VOL. v. XO. 10. OCTOBER 1821. 
Y 
