DISAPPOINTMENT. 
121 
boat worked by one man, and we shove off in the 
direction of a point of ice where two great seals are 
basking in the warm rays of the sun. We creep 
steadily towards them, dodging past the blocks of 
floating ice as we go. Our two guns are ready, 
and we agree to fire at the same moment. Nothing 
seems more certain than that the precautions we have 
taken will meet with the success our efforts deserve, 
but we are again doomed to disappointment; we only 
wound the largest. These seals we made so sure 
of were what are called bladder noses (Cystophora 
cristata). These strange-looking fellows are quite un¬ 
like in facial aspect to any we had previously seen. 
The bladder-nose is the fifth variety of seal we have 
as yet encountered, and from his habit of going farther 
on the ice, and making a greater show of resistance to 
his pursuers, he promises to afford greater opportuni¬ 
ties for sport. 
Hardly had we time to load, when they appeared 
again close by the boat; disturbed in their nap by our 
sudden onslaught, evidently they had dived to avoid 
the threatened danger, and were now on the surface to 
reconnoitre—perhaps each feared for the safety of the 
other. There was no time to lose, therefore, and a 
bullet was lodged in the tough hide of the male. Down 
he plunged once more, but evidently hard hit. We 
