September 1855. Encampment at Semarine Rs 290 but toward the first of September, it again be- came fine, and I had an opportunity of per- amulating the island without fear of being lost in the fog. The surface is mountainous, half vegetated, and mostly covered with angular fragments of rock, slightly moss-grown. Nearly all the land travelling must be done by climbing over these rocks, often up steps of 15°, which is very fatiguing to one unaccustomed to it. The pursuit of game, however, soon leads one to make light of difficulties, and as the large Arctic Hare was to be found in considerable numbers on the plateaux of the mountain summits, I ascended them nearly every day for a week. I saw as many as five hares in one day; sometimes two or three at a time, and shot several, but owing to the ease with which they escape when wounded by hiding among the rocks, I secured only one. These rocks also shelter- ed the ermine, in the yellowish-brown back and light-yellow breast of its summer-dress. A curious little tail-less rodent C was exceedingly abundant on the sides of the hills, and amused us much by its behavior. Whenever we sat down to rest, some of these little fellows would come out of their hiding places, mount a rock, and commence a quick, shrill, bark, which lasted as long as we remained. Sometimes they would gradual- ly approach the observer, shifting from rock to rock until quite close, and evincing much curiosity. The Arctic fox, in its red summer dress, was frequently seen. On the lower ground a species of Arctomys or Ground Squirrel was very common, and its holes were every where to be seen, frequent- ly with the animal sitting in a listening attitude, at the mouth. One day an excitement was created in our camp by a strange appearance in the harbor, of what appeared to be a suc- cession of milk-white coils, simultaneously rolling, and a strong gowings prevailed for the moment that the First Sea Serpent was approaching. Every available piece in Camp was brought to bear upon this phenomenon, but the firing produced no effect, and we followed it in its retreat in the boat, without success. It was probably a school of small Belugas, or white whales, swimming side by side, and rising together from time to time to breathe. September 1855. Encampment at Semarine Rs 291