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Show 1882.] HISTORY OF FRANZ-JOSEF LAND. 655 November 1881 2 Bears. December „ _ f 4 Bears. January 1882 | g W a i r u s. February „ 1 Bear. March " „ 8 Bears. j 4 Bears. A P n l » \ 50 Looms. J 3 Bears. M a y " \ 370 Looms. 1 Bear. June „ i 5 Walrus. [ 250 Looms. July „ (During boat-journey.) 2 Bears. On Hearing Cape Crowther in July 1881, Walruses were seen on loose pieces of ice in great numbers ; sometimes twenty or more were counted lying huddled up on one small piece. By going quietly in a boat" you could get within 20 or 30 yards of them before they took much notice of you ; but after the first shot was fired they tumbled into the water, and would go swimming about and barking round the boat, but never attacked us. In September we saw great numbers of Walruses on the loose ice near the land ; near Bell Island they were in great quantities ; and off Cape Flora they were in great schools in the water. On October 28th five Walruses were shot on the edge of the ground-ice in front of our hut; there were also great numbers in the water at that time of the year. Up to the end of February Walruses were constantly seen swimming about in the water; and on January 24th three were shot at the edge of the ground-ice near the hut. . In March the land-floe formed, and no open water existed within 7 or 8 miles of the land ; but on going up the hill, Walruses could be seen by means of a glass swimming in the water. On June 13th a strong N . W . gale broke up the land-floe; and on June 15th five Walruses were shot on the loose ice in the Sound. The Walruses never left the country ; and we never saw any signs of their taking the land. No remains of bones were seen anywhere on the land. White Whales and Narwhals were seen in great numbers in September and October travelling S.E.; and in June some large schools were seen travelling westward and north-west. Foxes (Canis lagopus) were constantly troubling us during the winter ; they would come close up to the house, and soon got so tame that it was difficult to frighten them away from our blubber. We shot one White Fox (female) and a Grey Fox (male) during the winter. One or two Grey Foxes were seen during the winter with patches of white on them. No Black Fox was seen. In the autumn the Foxes were very quick in catching the Looms, especially the young ones when they were first brought down to the water. Two or PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1882, No. XLIV. 44 |
