Volume 1

Journal of a voyage of discovery to the Arctic regions, performed between the 4th of April and the 18th of November, 1818, in His Majesty's ship Alexander, Wm. Edw. Parry, Esq. Lieut. and commander / by an officer of the Alexander.

  • Fisher, Alexander
Date:
[1820?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Journal of a voyage of discovery to the Arctic regions, performed between the 4th of April and the 18th of November, 1818, in His Majesty's ship Alexander, Wm. Edw. Parry, Esq. Lieut. and commander / by an officer of the Alexander. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Clommon Names. Linnvan Names. Characteristics. Remarks. White Partridge. Tetraeo Lagopus. Rather larger than the common par¬ tridge, the plumage of the male was per¬ fectly white, and that of the female of a rusty brown colour. The only place where we saw any of these birds, was on Hare, or Waygat Island, Davis’ Straits. Snow Bunting. Emberiza Nivalis. I>engih five inches breadth eleven in¬ ches ; the male is chiefly white, and the plumage of the female of a dusky brown. We found these birds on all parts of the Coast of Green¬ land where we land¬ ed. Ivory Gull. Ljrus Eburneus. About the size of the common gull; the whole of the plumage of a snowy whiteness. We saw but very few of these birds until we got as far as latitude 76^ N. Burgomaster. Larus Glaucous. Length about five feet ten inches j breadth two feet five inches; the breast, neck, and the whole of the under part of the body white, the back of the wings of a fine hoary grey. We met with some of these birds in all parts of Davis’ Straits and Baffin’s Bay ; but we found the greatest number of them on a rocky is¬ land, in lat. 74° N. where they were breeding. Kiltiwake. Larus Rissa. Length fourteen inches; extent three feet; head, neck, and tail, white ; back and wings grey ; tips of the wings black. We met with some of these birds all the way across the At¬ lantic, as well as be¬ yond the Arctic Cir¬ cle. Boatswain, or Arctic Gull. Larus Parasiticus. Length 21 inches; breadth three feet six inches; the back, wings, and tail, dus¬ ky ; neck, and under part of the body, white. 1 do not remember having seen any of them until we en¬ tered Davis’ Straits.