CHAP. XIV.] SCARCE SPECIES OF SEAL. 219 
Even the high mountains on the Asiatic shore were still 
wrapped in a thick mist, from which only single mountain- 
summits now and then appeared. Next the vessel large 
fields of drift-ice were visible, on which here and there flocks 
of a beautifully marked species of seal {Histrioplioca fasciata, 
Zimm.) had settled. Between the pieces of ice sea-birds 
swarmed, mostly belonging to other species than those which 
SEAL FROM THE BEHRING SEA, 
Histriophoca fasciata, Zimm. 
are met with in the European Polar seas. The ice was fortu¬ 
nately so broken up that the Vega could steam forward at full 
speed to the neighbourhood of St. Lawrence Bay, where the 
coast was surrounded by some more compact belts of ice, which 
however were broken through with ease. First, in the mouth 
of the fjord itself impenetrable ice was met with, completely 
blocking the splendid haven of St. Lawrence Bay. The Vega 
