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Show 1877.J THE NORTH POLAR RASIN. 29 the sea on the 28th July +35° Fahr.; on the 29th, after entering Smith's Sound, the temperature fell to •+• 31°, rising again in Buchanan Strait to +34°, where birds were comparatively abundant both in species and in numbers. On the 4th of August in the main channel the temperature fell to +30° and +31°, rising again in the shallower waters of Franklin-Pierce Bay to +33°; and as we proceeded northwards up the main channel the water fell to+ 29°, which became its normal temperature until frozen over. I insert these observations on temperature because I am led from them to the conclusion that the distribution of the Arctic species of birds that derive their sustenance from the sea is dependent in a great measure on the Burface-tem-perature of the sea-water. After crossing the North Water on the 29th July 1875, and passing north of Cape Isabella, Mergulus aile disappeared. A few Fulmars (Procellaria glacialis)io\\o\sec\ the ship ; but on the following day, when we were embayed in the ice off Cape Sabine, they had all left us. Taking shelter from the pack drifting down the Sound we found a commodious little harbour with open water close to Cape Sabine. There we found a colony of about 25 pairs of Larus glaucus breeding, the young nearly ready to fly. Some 6 or 7 pairs of Ivory Gulls (Pagophila eburnea) frequented this harbour; but we failed to discover their nesting-haunts. We noticed a pair of Ravens (Corvus corax) ; and many Eiders (Somateria mollissima) were breeding on the small islets, the eggs deeply incubated on the 1st of August. On the 4th of August we had worked round Cape Sabine into Buchanan Strait. There we noticed a few Mergulus aile, two or three examples of Alca arra, several Sterna macrura, and on shore several Plectrophanes nivalis, and a single example of JEgialitis hiaticula, which proved to be a $ . On the 10th and 11th of August we found a few Eiders (Somateria mollissima) breeding on Norman-Lockyer Island, two pairs of Sterna macrura breeding, and one or two Pagophila eburnea hovering over pools and cracks in the floe. On the 14th of August, at Cape Hilgard, we found the Black Guillemot (Uriagrylle) breeding in the limestone cliffs at an elevation of from 400 to 500 feet, and noticed a solitary Larus glaucus cruising along the shore. Our sportsmen also procured that day on the shores of Dobbin Bay a 5 and 6* adult Lagopus rupestris and three young ones. A flock of three Turnstones (Strepsilas interpres) passed the ship, flying south ; I shot one, a bird of the year. August 16th, near Hayes point, Mr. Hart observed a pair of White Falcons (Falco candicans) nesting in a lofty cliff. A few miles further north I saw a pair of Ivory Gulls nesting in a high precipice ; but it was impossible to reach the spot. On August 13th, when embayed in the ice near the shore in N. lat. 79° 37', Black Guillemots were observed to be nesting in the cliffs in considerable numbers. During our run from Cape Collinson through Kennedy Channel, which was comparatively open, to Bessel's Bay I did not notice a single bird; but in Bessel's Bay Black Guillemots (Uria grylle) were numerous, and a considerable number of Somateriee with their young broods were seen on the 23rd of August. Discovery Bay was |