268 
BIRDS RETURNING. 
occupy the inclined slopes that face the sun, and the 
several strata of snow take of course the same inclina¬ 
tion. The consequence is that as the upper snow is 
dissipated by the early thawings, and sinks upon the 
more compact layer below, it is to a great extent ar¬ 
rested, and runs off like rain from a slope of clay. 
The plant reposes thus in its cellular bed, guarded 
from the rush of waters, and protected too from the 
nightly frosts by the icy roof above it. 
“June 16, Friday.—Two long-tailed ducks (Harelda 
glacicilis ) visited us, evidently seeking their breeding- 
grounds. They are beautiful birds, either at rest or on 
the wing. We now have the snow-birds, the snipe, 
die burgomaster gull, and the long-tailed duck, enliven¬ 
ing our solitude; but the snow-birds are the onl y ones 
in numbers, crowding our rocky islands, and making 
our sunny night-time musical with home-remembered 
songs. Of each of the others we have but a solitary 
pair, who seem to have left their fellows for this far 
northern mating-ground in order to live unmolested. 
I long for specimens; but they shall not be fired at. 
The ptarmigan show a singular backwardness in 
assuming the summer feathering. The male is still 
entirely white; except, in some specimens, a few brown 
feathers on the crown of the head. The female lias 
made more progress, and is now well coated with her 
new plumage, the coverts and quill-feathers still re¬ 
maining white. At Upernavik, in lat. 73°, they are 
already in full summer costume. 
“June 18, Sunday.—Another pair of long-tailed 
