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Show 1882.] HISTORY OF FRANZ-JOSEF LAND. 653 Geese and Brent Geese were seen and shot on the cliffs 700 feet sea-level; but no nests were seen. At Cape Flora there was a very large loomery, also many Dovekies, Rotges, Kittiwakes, Snow-birds, and Burgomasters. On the lowland Snow-Buntings and Sanderlings were seen, but no nests were found. The Looms lay their eggs on the bare rocks. The Dovekies and Rotges lay them in the crevices of the rocks. The Kittiwake makes a nest of mud and moss. The Snow-bird makes a rudimentary nest of moss and a few feathers; but it is of no definite shape. Each species seems to occupy a separate part of the cliff; the Kittiwakes generally build with the Looms, but always on the lowest shelves. The Rotges and Dovekies left about the first week in September ; Looms were very scarce after September 10th. On September 22nd a note in m y diary says that a few Burgomasters, Snow-birds, Mollies, Kittiwakes, Eider Ducks, Brent Geese, Snow-Buntings were still seen, but getting very scarce, and that by the end of the month a bird was a sight seen only very rarely. On October 13th two or three young Snow-birds and occasionally a Molly or Burgomaster were still seen hovering around the meat outside the house; and even on October 28th a few Snow-birds, Mollies, and Burgomasters came and fed on the remains of a Walrus, and remained a day or two hovering about; but after November 1st I never saw a bird at all. On February 8th, 1882, a Snowy Owl was seen ; the first bird to arrive. On February 18th two or three flocks of Dovekies were seen flying to the N.W.; and on the 20th we saw a great number in the water. On March 2nd a lane of water opened out, close to the ground-ice ; and it was crowded with Rotges and Dovekies. March 9th, the first Loom was seen; but it was not until nearly the end of March that they began to settle on the rocks; and then they would only stop for a few hours, and go away for four or five days. W e were not able to get up the cliff and shoot any until April 16th. April 20th, a Snow-bird was seen, also a Falcon Hawk. April 22nd, two Burgomasters were seen. April 24th, Mollies were seen. May 6th was the first time Kittiwakes were noticed ; and the small land-birds were seen about that time. The Looms did not begin to sit on the cliffs until about June 10th ; after that date the females remained almost always on the rocks, keeping their places, ready for laying; and on June 20th three Loom's eggs were obtained ; no other eggs were seen or obtained. Although a great many Geese used to come on the lowland near the pond, I never could find any signs of a nest. The following is a list of the birds seen on the land either in 1881 or 1882:- Loom ( Uria brunnichi). Rotge (Mergulus aile). Dovekie ( Uria grylle). Molly (Procellaria glacialis). Snow-bird (Pagophila eburnea). Burgomaster (Lai-us glaucus). |