Innumerable flights of birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the deck, one of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating.

About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead off the larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal.

As the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of the boats to see what it was.

Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the mate in the larger boat.

Upon coming up with the floe, we perceived that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals.