IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 0 .^^^. 1.0 I.I IIM iillM !ll:36 IIM = 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" - ► V] signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 AI I i .^■■. THE ARCTIC AND ANTMCTIC REGIONS. LONDON : I'lllNTlU) liV brOTTISWOODK ANll CU., NK\V-STlll;lir SQIAIIB AND PAULIAMIINT bTllBlST I fl^ Ifl THE POLAR WORLD: A I'uI'LI.AH lil;.«i IlII'I ION ul" MAN AND NATURE IN riir AUCTIC AM) ANTAIJCTIC lUXilUNS UF TIIK GLOIJK. IJV DR. G. HAUTWIG, AT lllilll lit' ' lilK ."KA AM) ITsi I.IVINc; UdMlICUS,' 'Till: llAllMi'MKrt OK NATUIIK," AMJ 'Tin; TUorifAl. Uulil.U,' ir/n/ i:ji;i/r riii:uMoxyi.i'(in.\i-iiir n.Mrs, 7111:1:1: mm-s, asd svMi:n>'rs woovccTS. NATIONAL I\i.."::UH OF Cix^A.^A LONDON: L 0 X G M A N S, G li l- E X, A X D C O. 18()J). 012181 1 1 KID): 1 PIJEFACK. 1 "l^"- \Vo,.M in i,s prinri,,,,! ,,,u„,,l fc,t„,,„, ,„ T'" '"" ""■ '"""^■"'■- "!• i'^ l"",u wintor-ni.!,. ,„„1 ^':""f '"' '■'■ "" '!"■ 'l-v. I. .,,.„,..„, or v,..,.,,.;i,!c. ,„„1 ai.MM.1 ...v,s...M,v. „n,l .i„,,||_v ,„ |,i,,,„,,, ,„„„ ■,,.,„ j|^_, ,,'"'■,"' '"'■ '•'■-■''"^' II'" •''•-•■"ll-Ml .linrnto „ni,o'l,i,r|, ,""'"'"'"■ ^'"'"' '■''l»-'' .-'^ ll.c- inhal.il.ni „f their ^'' '>: "''"'"'"^ '"■ "^ ll.e bold invosii-ntor of tli.i, . '''''!' '■''' '■ ''"""'"'■' ^l'"«-s ,1„. f;,vnt vurielv of in- teivM,,,,- s„i,j,,,. .,„i,,„,,,, „. , ,, „„„,„,,,,,^i;.,,,. ._ oomoy s„l„l in.stn„.lion undw an ..ntcTt.iniMs fonn I v«.nnv,„ l,„|„. ,|.„ „,„ |,„,|i, ,,;„ ^,,.^„,, -„^.^ _;^^ n. HAHTWir;. "i:il)Ki,iii:);f;: Juinidn/ 2. ]S(!!I. The l!ai Illcl' I.V th, 'I'll.. V .VmimI:, Srvcri Wiii.ls M.IM ;, Cliiiiat Di'.Om Nigiits The. |{,.in, l-AllViol li'ail;:!' I Glutton Thr Wi l-"oX -It Aiiati.la l»rw\\:i,- The 1 illlTrll (tnnill C'OXTKXTS. I'AIM' I. tin: AiH'Trc' imkjioxs. CIIAIMKI; 1. nil: Ai;' ill' i.anips. N 111- 'I'liii'lii Aliiuiilaiu'i' lit' Alii mill Life on tlicTuiKlri in Siiin- ■ M. ijniti 'J'lir various Cau.ses Mliioli (litcrniinc tlio Srvi-rii y 111" an An-tii' Cliniali' Insular ami Cuntincntal I'u^itinn— Currcnls — Wituls— llxtrmn s of Col. I olisirvid hy Sir H. IJilclicr ami Dr. Kani'— How is Man aMc to suiniort tiir Ki^ours of an Ar>'tic Winter? I'ronfs of u niikli-r t'liniato liaviin; oni'i' rciirncil in tlui Arctii.' Kc^ions — Its Causo arconlinL' to l»i'.('-\\alil Hi'i'r — IV'culiai' 15oauti('M)f the Arrtii' lu'i^i'ins— Siinsi't — L«ii^' Lunar .Nij,'lils — Tin' AnroiM ... ... Pag.' :i (TiAi'ri:i; ii Ai!< 111' i..\M> i,ir.\i'i;ri'i;ii> .wm i;ii;ii.>. TIr' Hi'in>IiH'r— Struct uri' of its I''uol — Clattirin^ Noise wliuii Walking — ^XntliTs — Mxiraonlinary Olfai'ti^ry I'owi'rs — The loilandiL- ^loss— I'rcsfnl aiul fornu i* IJan;:!' of tlu" Utimln'r — Its invaluaMi' Qualititsi ns an Ari'tic ilonustii- Anini.il --luvolts aL'ainsi Opjiression— Knemii's of tin* Hcindcer— Thr Wolf— Tlio (Jlutloii or AVolveriiU'— Gad-fliis — The Kl!; or Moose Deer — The Musk ().\ Till' Wild Shei'j) of the Hoeky .Mountains— The Silieriaii Alkali- The .\ relic \-\)1 —Long Series of Cal;imilii- — Great l-'rujition of the Skapta iTiiknll in ITSTs -Commercial Monopoly - Pefter Times in jirospect .......... 7:! rOXTKXTS. IX ( lI.\rTF-R VII. iion of It'''- 1 ffivi' llu'iii — DangcTfiiil ranf^part'iuv uu(-i'^ wliii'li d Coiitluotor Pagf 'Jli Tfir icKi.AxnKns. t^kalliolt — Rrykjavik— T.'io I'air — Tlio Poat^aiit niul tlio Metvliaiif — A f'lurpfynian in hi-i Tnjis — Hay-makinsr — Tlio IcclandiT's Hut — ClmrclKs — I'ovcrty of tlic ('|,.,.jry_-J,;n Tlmrlakson -The Si'iniuary of IJcykjavik — 15riKfii'i;!l Influence of tlif Cli'rpry — Uonii' lvlucati(Mi— The Icelander's Winter's Evening — Taste fur liiterature— 'J'lii' Lani,ninL'" - 'J'lie Pulilie Li1irary.it Ixeykjavik— The leelnndif Literary .Society — Icelamlic NewKpapers— Jjoiifrevity — Leprosy — Travel linjr in Iceland — Fordinc the Pivers— Crossinp of the Skeidara by Mr. Holland — A Nidit'-; liivonae Page 8.') Ill Wliales — .- Ilis whoh- . Seals— Til.' Tection— The Is . Ill il'lie Puniiiiir un;.'o-hver at niaiinaiija — i l-'i)ss— C'li- Reindeer — Swan — Til'' llg Seas(i\i — d . iJi' Ins — liipfnlfr Induction et Traveller lleson — Till' I Calamitii'- klonopoly - niAPTHU viri. Tin: wi'STM.w isi,.\Nn,«. The \\'e>itmans— Their extreme Diffii-ully of Access IIow they hceame peopled — lleiniaey — Kaufstathir and (Haiihyte Sheep Hoisting— .I'^gg Gathenng — I>i'radful Mortality among tlie Cliildren - The Oinkluti — Gentleman John — Tile Algerian Pirates - Dreadful Sufferings of the Islanders . , . 103 ("HAPTKH IX. 1 uoM nnoxTiiEiM TO Tin: n<'>I!TH cwk. IVIild Climate of the Norwegian Coa.st — Its Causes - The Norwegian Peasant - Norwegian Constitution- Homanlic Coast Scenery- I'rontheim - (iieitliiil'eld — Holme and Vitre — The Sea-F.agh — -The Herring I'isheries— Tlie Lofuii'ii Islands —The Cod Fisheries — Wretched Condition of the Fi.shermen Tnjmsc'i — Aheiifiord — The Copper Mines -H.immerfest the most Northern Town in the World "The North Cape lOi) (11 Al'Tlli; X. SITTZIU-IMKN'— 1!I:A1; 1SI..\NI) — .1.\\ .MKYKV. The West Coast of Spitzhergen — Ascension of a Mountain hy Dr. Scoreshy-IIis lAeiu'sion along the Coast — .\ stranded Whale — .M.'igdaleiia I'ay - .Multitudr^; of Se.i-hirds — .\nimal Life — Miilniirht Silence- Glaciers— A danererous Nei^'hlMjur- Imod — Interior Plateau -l''lora of Spitzhergen— lis Similarity witli that of the -Mjis ahove the Snow-line — liein(h'er -The hyperhorean Ptarmigan- Fishes — Colli -Priflwood -Discovery (jf Spitzhergen liy Harentz, Heeniskerk, and Kyp — l'>rilliant Period of the Whale-fishery — Collins Fight I'^iglish Sailors winter in Spitzhergen, 1GI50 —Melancholy Death of some Dutch Volunteers — Russian Hunters — Their Mode of Wintering in Sj>itzliergen — Scharostin — Walrus Ships from Hamrnerfest and Tromsii — Hear or Cherie Island — Rennet — Flnoriiious { Sl.iughtcr of Walruses— Mildness of its Climate — Mount Misery — Adventurous ■ i'lo.it Voyage of some Norwegian Sailors --.T;in Meyer— Reercnlierg . . 122 x CdXTHNTS. CITAI'THI! XI, \ M\ \ V.\ / I; M I, Y A, T'l.' Sci Mt' KaiM - I/isolikiii -Kipsiiivsslow — Liitke — Kroluw I'liclitussow — Sail» .iloii!,' I 111; Hiistoi'ii CuMst of the iSuiitliern l>liiiul to .Matosi'likiii Schnv — III- Scouiul \'o_vage ami J)i'atli — .Metoorologieal OKsiTvatiuiiw of Ziwolka Tho Oulil SiiiiiiiiiT of Xiivava /.ciiilyii — Von liaor';-; scientific Vuyaj^e to Xovaya /t'liily;; — His Advcntuivs in 3Iatoselikin Si-luir- Stoi'm in Kot^tin Siliar— Hea JJat!: .111(1 Witivn (.'I'oss -I'otaniL'al Observations — A natural Garden — Solitude umi Silence - A liir.l-IIazaar llnnlin;.' I'.Npediiions of the Kussians to Novav.i /ciiil\a ............ Pace 1 l^ I'll.MTKi; Xll. I 111; I. API'S. 'J'heir ancient History and Cunveision to ('iiri.>?tiaiiily— Self-denial and Poverty i.: the Lajjiainl (.'lerjiy -Their sinrruhir Mode of Preaching- (.Jro-ss Suiierslitiui. of the J.ajips — Tiic Kvil Spirit of llu* AVo(jds— The Lapland Witches — Physical (,V)nstitution (jf llie Lap{)s— Tlu'ir Dress — The I'jiilllappars — Their Dwellings — ■ton; Houses - lu'indeer Pens -Milking the Keindcer — .Mignitiinia - The Laj- land Dog- Skiders, or Skates — The Sledge, or Pulka--X;itural JJeautios of Lap- land— Attachment of the Lapps to tiieir Country — Hear ILmting — W(jlf Hniitii.g — Mode of Living of tlu' wcaltliy Laj'ps— How they kill the ]{i in.lrer — Visit- ing the Fair— Mammon Worship — Treasure Hiding — "Tabak, or Hraende"— Affoctionale iyisj)usition of the Lapps — The Skogslapp— The Fisherlapp . l.'il A .S IMI. uiicieii m Wli.it is t M-liii'ii Til. I C"\'jn;-i Iv.in tlie 7' \\nu- to .' .siansto ( Kii \: s. Their Harbarisin— Num. or Jiiibeambaert je — Shamunism -Samojede Llols - Sj,; diei -Halie — The Tadebtsios, or Spiribs — The Tadibes, or .Sorcerers — The: what Pur ulti.'S and ;l?fiii'm en 'I f . l..i:.-S,, iiind '^, C<».\TK.NTS. M ow— SuiU ^har — Hi« -Tho CjM ;i Zeiulyii -Hen r>at!; litudf au'i 0 Novav:i PllilO 11'' [)i-,.s>--Tlioir Invocations — Tin ir cuiijurinfr Tricl-'^ — Hovrrrnrr'paid to tlio Pciid A SiiiiKpjrdo Oath -Appcaraiu-f of ilii' Samojcilos — Tliiir Dress- A Saniojnlc P.iHo -Cliarai'ti r ot' tlip Samojodos Tlirir dcfreasiiii: NumljorH — Traditions of i.noiciit. llfToos Pafri' 1S7 ClIAl'TKI^ XV. im: iisi.i.\K>. \Vli;it is tilt" Olii? Inundations - An Ovtjak Sunimrr Jurt — Povrrty of tlio Ostjak lM>hirnii n -A AVi liter Jurt Altaclmi'nt of the Ostjaks to their ancient ("us- imiis An I'vtjak I'riiie( — Ai'cliery — Ajipearance and Character of tin'Osijaks Til. I'air ol'Olr.lui^k I'.KJ I'oViTly ' ; suiierstitioii i— Piiysical Jwelliuf^s- - The Lai- ties of Lap- olf Iluntiii.' Jeer— Vi^ii- l>racndu "— app . I''' Ihvalojoki— ]\enii— •'^L- laii{^el — Tl;i loss-Si.'.!^' ■Al'aiidoiii'; 'cutiuiis ;i'. ^sk— Secoi"! [vrasiiojai'-i; Ca.^lrc'.i- [rt— Retiiri. (fiervatioii to Fililaiii V cifAPrK!; xvr. t'MN.jn:-! nr >ii;i:i;i.\ \.\ mi: i.m'.-sians — riinii; viiva(,i;> of ulxtivkuy Ai.uNi; nil: ^iiiii;i:s (n- tiii: ioi.ai; fl( — Strogonoff— Ymnak tlio Rol)!>or and Conqueror — His Expodi- lioiis to Silicvia — llattle of Tol'olsk — Verniak's Death— Prorrress of the Rus- sians to Ochotsk -Seniei) Deshnew - Condition of theSilierian Natives under tho Ii'iw'-ian Yoke Voyaircs of !ii>c(ivrry in the Piiirii of llie Ijiipress Anna — i'nmtsi-hi-clit.-.'liow- Chariton and Demetrius Lajitiw — An arctic Heroine — Schalanrow — I>i^coveriis in tlio Si-a of P>clirinpr and in tho Pacific Ocean — The Liichow Island- -i''ossil Ivory -N'W SiKi-ria — Tho Wooden Mountains — 'J'he iMst Ami- of Sil.rria . 20.') cuAPTi;i; XVII. .-II'.KK'IA — Kli; ri.'AI'i: AM> (iuLli-niiiciXi; .d(ds -S'l I'crs - Till' ■1 1 SiliiM.i — It- ininieii^.' Ivxtcnl and Capal'ilities — 'i'lie l-Xiles — Mentschikoff— Iiojoixroiiky Miiiiich— Till- Criminal- - Tin ■ free ."^ilieri.in Prasant- Fxtreinisof IlesU and Cold — Fnr-liearing Animals — The Sahle — Thf Krniino — The Sil.rrian \V,a/rl -■{■he S-a Otter- ThcT.lack I'ox - The Lynx Th.^ Squirrel 'I'lir \'ary- iiiLf Hare The Suslik- -Iniimrtance of ihu Fur Trade tor the Northern Provinees of the Russian l-aiipiiv - The (iold DiirL'intrs of l-/istorn Siberia -Tho 'J'aiiia '— Hxpen-es an -huc-Tauil-k ... 'JUS (.IIAI'IKK XVIIl. MI|i|>1.Mhi|;ii ',- AhVr.Mll.T.s IV I Al M I l;l.A\ |i, For'.vl.it I'ari.o-,' %va-- Middriidorir- \"oya^n to ■i",-i:niur!,ind undertaken?- Dif1i- ciiI'i->. mikI ( )I.-taeI( s I-'xpeditioii down the Taitnur Fiver to the Polar Si'.a — _Pt.inu on Tainiur Fake- Loss of tho i>oai — MiddendorflT ill and alone in 7o^ K. I.ai, — Saved l»y a |.a'ateful Saniojede- Climate and Vepitation of Taininr- lii'l '^tO Xll CONTENTS. CHAl'TEK MX. IJIK JAKl IS. Tli''ir fncr^ctio Niitioiialitv — 'I'hcir Dcscfiit- 'I'lieir gluoiny Charaetcr— iSiiiiiiinr ami NVinti.T Dwilliiifis - The Jakut Jlorwu - Iiut v4i.'j1o Powors o( luuliirancL' n: l.lio .Jakiits--'J'lifir Sharjiiicss of VisiDii — Surprising local Memory — Tluir manual Dexterity Jieatlier, I'oniarils, Carpet.s - Jakul (ilultmis— Superstitirjth l*'ear of the ^rotuilaiii Spirit Ljc-chei — Offerin^.s uf Ilurse-hair — Jiiipruvi.-ud Songs — Tile liiver Jakut ........ Page 2.j:' (JH.VPTHR X.\'. \\i!AX()i:r-. Ilif* dihtinguisli'.J Services as an Aretie l^xplorer — Fnaii Petersburg to Jakui.-k in l«2(t— Trade of Jivkut.sk— From Jakutsk to Nislmo Kolyni^k— The liaila rany — Dreadful Climate of Ni.slmo Kolymsk — Summer Phmues — Vegetation- Aiiimal Life — Reindeer Hunting — Famine — Inuiuiations--Tlie Siberian Dn^'- Fir.st Journey.s over tlic Ico of the Polar Sea, and Exploration of tho Cuii- beyond Cape Shelagskoi in I82I — Dreadful Dangers and Hardships — Matiusc!:- kin's Sledge Journey over the Polar Sea in IS'J'J — Last Adventures on tho Pol.i: Sea — A Kun for Life— Ketuni to St. Peter,sljurg 2')v CHAPTHU XXJ. Tin; Tixuusr, 'J'heir Relationship to the Mandsehu- Dnadful Conditiiju of the Outcast Xoiii.i: — Ciiaracler of the Tungusi— Their Outfit for tho Cha^e — I'xar lluntiiii.' Dwellings — Diet - A Nighl'.'i Halt witli Tur.gusi iu the Forest — Ochotsk . l!; I'HAl'TKR XXIL tilOOKill': WlLl.lA.M STKLLEH. His Birth— Enters the Russian Service — Scientific Journey to Kamtschatka .V companies IJehring on his Seeoml Voyage of DiHCovery — Lands on tlie DIn' of i\aiak -Sliameful Coiuhut of iJeliring— Shipwreck on lichriug Jshiml- iJeiiriiig".'^ Death — Return to Kamtschatka — L(;ss of Property — Persecutieii> the Siberian Authorities— Frozen to Death at Tjnnieii .... 'd>. CHAPTER XXllI. Tile I., T) — ]',• lo JiiuceH •ji' or S^'i Bell ring IJelirii --Tlie Cll.lsili It ijlleil' \vi( ■A -M'l'-ar, lajAj.parai ee —'Hie -Variu Hiiiiiiii^ •iallles ,1 liiirliuk- of J»istc£ thi Cuiirei - I'll!' Ti\u , befW,., 11 ) - Their ./•Jlii'Non's ,,01 ill,. Ci , JJi'Muii j;, I,,. I'iiie .Marl {8|ll.:ll I'isl, . I.yiix ,,[■ i^ K.\Mi.S(.ll.\lKA. Climate — Fertility- - Lu.xuriant Vegetation — Fish Sea liirds — Kamt.schatkan Bi^ catchers — TIu^ Ray of Av.atscha — Petropaulow.sk — The Kamt.sch.itkans — Tl/ jijiysical and moral Qualities — The Fritillaria surrana — The Mucluinior — ]h\' — Dogs :' v.iriiiiis ■ ars with for 111, ji- ( ■ ^''■'■^-Th, '^f -R COxNTKNTi?. X)ll mlurance c! uory— Tluir ■luiierstitiou- -lini)ruviM': •g to Jakul^k :_Tho IJa.lii- -Vi'gi'tation- iljcriiin l)<>'i- of the Cull'- j,s—M:itiuxch- ■s on tho Pol;,: ill- lluiitiiii; .•liutsli . - CHAPTER XXIV. iiiK Tcmn.'iii. Tlir Laii'l o," the 'IVlmi.hi — Tluir iiulijiciuk'iit Si'irit ami comnuTcial Entci'iiriso ..j _p,.q'.iu;il Mitrrutioiis — Tlir ]''air of Ostrowmijc -Visit in a Tuluiti'li Polo;? — to Jiiiits— TiliuU-!i JKijadeivs— Tiif Ti'iiiiVLrk or JU'iiidc it T^liuti'lii— Tin- (>iikil Lehatkan r>i ■latkans — Tl i'hanior — I'" CllAPTKU XXVI. riii; K.si^LiMAi'X. .Tii'ir wide Kxtension - (Miniate of tho Refiious they inhahil — Their i>!iy!-ieai .4 ,\i.iiearanoe — Their Dro.s— Snow Huts — The Ivayak or tho IJaidar — Hniitin;^ ^j, Ai'i'aratiis and ^^'oa|'■lns — Enmity lietween the Es(iuiinaux and the Red Indian:! ,.,-, - The 'JJloody FalU'-Cliase ot'the Eeindo'-r — IJird Catehini,' - Whale Iluntin;; —Various Strala^'eins em[dt: of thk ihi'shn's iiay tkimmioimk:^. The ('in;rrur (lis IJois — Tho Voyngeur — The IJireh-hark Canoe — The Canadian , I'ur Trade in tho hisl Cent ui'y— The Hud^on's Ray Company — Rloody Feuds litwecntho Xorth-AVest t'ompany of Canada and the Hudson's Ray Contpany - Tluir Amalgamation into a New Company in 1S21 iucunstruetinn i,f tho jJiuiUon's Ray Company in 1863 - i'orts or Hou.-es The Attihawmog — Inlluenee^ sj^.of ilie Company on its SavaLic Dependents The Rlaok I'-.aror Rarilial — 'i ho ;il!i''i\vii Rial' The f'fir;i(lf(l Siafc of the Wi.inon — Prin^ticil Soriali^i^ Cliararlfv - C'riU'lty to tile Aged ami Iiilinu ....... I'agL' ;}i;i nn.| Ke - Iloaf •3lav-.s' >- i;-a,i CIIArTKR XXX. Tin; T.orruKrx, oi; Knnnx ixkiax.^. Tho Countries tlicy iiilia!iif~-Tlipir Appoiiranco ami l)r('sfi — Their f/ivi' of l-'iii'V^ — Condilinii of ilic Woincn Siratif^o Customs -C'liaractor — l''i u I- wiili li; Esquimaux -Tliiir sus]iii'ious ami timorous liivrs — I'ouuds foi- ciiirliinp; !;■ ii;- (leer — Tiu'ir Lodgis :;;' CHAITKi; XXXT. AIM'ITC V(iV\(li:S (iK MSi(tVKi;V FIJOM Till: rAI'.iiTS Ti • IIMTIX. TIio I'irst Sc;miliiiavian Disrovrrcrs of America Tlie Cal.nis — \Vill'.n_.!il.y ,i': Cliauecilor ( 1. ■).■>:; -!.')■') I)— '••tcjilieu IJurroupIi ( 1 "i.jd) Fml.islier ( I .")7ii l»7s Davis ( l.')S')-l.")S7) — Hareiii.:. Coruelis, ami iSranI (1.V.11) -AVinieriiiL' of tli l)utel\ Navi;:ators in Novaya /emlya (l.')!)()-l,V,)7) ~ .Ii'lui KniLrlit UloC.) — y\w- (Icrod by tlio Ks,,uiniaux--lli ury Hudson (l()07-lGiia)— Haffin (IGIH) . ;;;; CFTAPTKK XXXII. ARCTIC vovA(;i:s or imsi (i\ ki;v, it;om r.Arnx im :\i'( i.ixtoik. Uuchan ami Franklin — Ross and Parry (ISIS) — T)ispor(ry of ^Melville Island - Wintor Harbour (ISIO- 1 S'id) - Frauklin's Fir^t Laml .bMirnoy— I)re,■i^• Suf1erin^■s— Parry's Second Voyasio (1821-1 S'JI^V-Iliiiiiuk— Lyon (IS'_M' Parry's Third Voyatje (18l2 IV I'raukliM's Serond Land .ruurncy to tlio '>\v-\- ■ of the Polar Sea — I'eeehey — Parrv's SIcdf,'e Journey towards tln' Pole «■ John Koss's Second ,Iourn(y — Five Years in the Arctic Oeean-lllaek's h- oovery of llie (freat Fish River -Doase ,ind Simpson ( I837-IS30) I'rank! and Croziir's last Voya;re i IS |.'))— Searchinp: Expeditions — Picliardsou r TJae— Sir James Ross -Austin- IViniy- Do Haven— Franklin's I'ir^t "Wii;' (Quarters discovered by Ommauey- Kennedy and Pellot -Jnplefield Sir ' Belcher— Kelletl—:>I-( 'lure's Di.-eovery of the North-West Passap-e Colliii- -^Bollot's Death— I'r. Rae learns the Death of the Crews of the ' Krebu- ' 'Terror' — Sir Leopold .M'Clintoek ,........- Ifal •'. -olafe «- >rVrril Oiii.iv iails pi :'.illee Tiii'Mafcrs, d'eiiiiiir A4Siy>ti'ri(ius Tans L^r,.,] fi-" ionarie ^ •Ircnlai '^The \,,r\ Esquimaux (ITAPTKK XXXIIL KAM' AXI> IIAVKS. Kane sails up Smith's Sound in tlie 'Advant'e' (IS.„'l) — 'Winti^rs in Ren--rl Pay — Sledci' J \\\>t' llio Crew -Sutrcring'* of tlu> Winter — Tlic Sliipaliamlnni'd :~ ll'iat Joiirnry to l'|ioi'niivik —Kane's Death in tlie Ilavannali (1H.)7) — Dr. '•3I:i,vr>' \'i.ya;;i' in 18(10 He winters at I'urf I'"uulkt — Crosses Kennedy Chfinnel - iea.les Cape Union, ilie must N'oi'tliern known l,and npon llio (ilobe — • IviMewey (1 SOS)— Plans for future Voyrif^es to tli-' North I'ulo . Page CJ.I CTIAPIKIJ XXXIV. NKWKilNhl.AMi. Hi i!r-'ilate Asprot — Forests- .Mar-Ins — liarriiis — Ponds — Fur-Fx^arinp Animals •-Sr\rriiv of Climate — St. John's - Disi'overy of Newfoundland hy the Sean- din. iviiins Sii- liumpliriv (iill.irt — Rivalry of the Kurdish and I'reiieh -Im- Borianee of ilii- |''i-liiriis — 'I'lic Hanks of Newt'oundlaiul — .Moilc of I'isliiiif^ — ilu'oalers. Headers, Splitters, Sailers, and Paeker.s — Fogs and Storms — Seal •Jpatehiny 4:}9 MTIN. lloiiLjllliy all .")7(i-l'')"f^ - ii'i-in;.' of '1' iriKf.) — Mnr- ;i('i) . o" NTOcK. ille Islan!- iey-Dvea.:i •on (ISLM' to the Sli'M" lie Pulo-S F.laek's H- i',V) Fralll^■ lehardson :v First AV i; •field- Sir ■ |rr,^ .. CoUill- Krelm-'^- CHAITKU XXXV. i.i;i:i;ni,am>. Ainy-terions Txocioii — Aneiont Scandinavian Colonists — Their Deelino and l-'all - Jfian- y.jvdi — Hi'- Trials and Success I'"oundation of Oodthaali — Herrenhutli iJi^-iiiiiariis — I.indenow — Thr Seortshys — ClaverintT' — The Danish Si'ttlemcuts in < iri'ciiland — The Clrteidand Ksquiniaux - Seal Catehinfj; — The White Dolphin «»-Thc Narwhal Shark l-'ishi'i'v — I'i-kerniisset — Firils — Keinilecr JIunting -In- .j^g, noiis Plants — Drift -Wood — .Mimral Kingdom — Modefjf Lifeof the Grcenhind Esijuiinau.x — Th" Danes in Greenland — Feautiful Scenery — Ico Caves . 419 PART TL THE ANTAJICTTC RE(JIONS. CllAPTKK XXXVi. .\NIAi;eTlC (le'KAN. ill Fen--i' [hrre P.i-t' l_Dr. Ihr |Land-M" Comi" :;'iti\c View of the Antarctic and Arctic Kegioiis— Inferiority' of Cliniato of ;': :!■ former — Its Causes — The New Shetland Islands- South (Jcijrgia — The Pei' em stn am— Sea-Lird'-;— TIf <;iaut Petrel— Tho Albatross — The Pengtiin —'I Aii-tial Whale — The liunehl.ack— Tho Fin-Ikek — Tho Grampus — BbI-:- wit!) a Whale— The Sea-ihphanl— The Southern Sea-in'ar— The Sea- leu; id— .\i)tarctic Fishes 4fi.-) •^ \V1 roNTKNTS. < IlAl'TKIi X.WVII. AN i.\i;i TIC V(iv.\(ii;s fir hi>((ivi:i;\. (/ook's I)i'i('fivf'rii '■ in th' Aiitiintii' Ore ,111 - licllin^hiinscii- WoMi 11 - liiscor lliillniy Pmnniit ilTrvilli— Wilkis Sir .(miik - IJosn crds-rs ih,. Aiilar.t f'iri'lc 01 New ^'car'.'" Hay, ISIl — niscuv. i> \'h>iMri,i I.iinil- I)i)imci'i'ii'< r,!inilii. fin l''riiikliii i>laii(l— An IliMii'tinu of .Mmiiit Lriliii* - 'I'lic 'Iriat Icr liarrii •■— I'rovidi'iitial I^scai'i — I)i'iaillul (ialr — (.'(illision — Ilazanlous I'as.-atio liclw.. Tmu IcrbtTi-'s — Tti'niiiiniion 111' tlio VdvaiTi' ..... Pair'' II (IlAlTKli XX.WIll. ■rin: sTi;.\ri ni- .m.\i;i;i.i.a\. Df.-friiition ofttio Strait — Wcstorn Kiitraiici — I'niiit Diinixfiicss— Tlif Xai-row- Saint rhili|i's lifiy — Capo I'l'iiwanl — Oraii.l Sccini'v Tm-t I'aniinc Tin' Sr !j ]\ivfi- — I>ar\viii's AM-cii-^icni of Blount Tarn — 'I'lu^ llacliclur Hivrr I'liu' ■ Ivrai-ll — Sea Ixoacli — Snnl h Itcsulai i^n — llail'ijiir of Mcri'y ^^'ilii^^■a\vs ji covcry of the Sirail l.y .Maijvllaii (OctoLor 'J(i, IVJI) — Prako — Sarniii 11' • ("avcndisli ~ Sclioutiii and Lr ^lain- — liyron -- lionpain^ilir - Wallis 1 Carti'i'ot — F\inir anil l'"iizi'oy ■ Sciilinii'nt at I'nnta Arenas-- 1 nrrca^ing l'a>~i. tlirougli till' Si lait — A fntnrr lli;jli\vay of (.'oinnuii'i.' . . . . 1 ClIATTKR XXXIX. rAiAiioNiA \Mi nii: i'atamimans. l>iff('n'ncf' of ("linnitf bftwccn i",ast anil West I'atafronia- ivxtraordinary Ariil; of East I'atagonia - /ool,ii:y— 'i'lio dnanai'o - Tho TiU'iit-.K-o- TIjc I'atair>>n: Agouti — ^'nltu^(-s — Tin' 'l"nrk(y-r>uz/anl The ('ai-ranoIia-TlK' Cliinian::'- Darwiii's 0«trirh 'I'lir I'aiaijonians — Exaggoratfil Ai'ronnls oi' their Statu"- Their l'iiysio;_Mioniy and I>i'ess- -Religions Idra>— Sn|ierst it ioiis - As! ronoiii' Knowledgi — l)ivi^il)n into 'i'rilics The Tent (ir Toldo Trading ]{uut'-- The (ireat Caeiqui — Jntrodnctii'ii of the Horse — Indnstry — Amusemeut>- Charaetcr . . . . in CIIAl'THR XI-. T II F, K i: 1: i; 1 A \ >;. Tlioir inisoraMo Condition— Degradation of ilody and Mind — Powers of Mini:' — .Notions of liaiter- ("anse- of their lov Slate of Cnilivation -Their ]•''"■ Limpets — Cyltaria Darwini Constant Miurations — 'J"he Pnegian AVigWiiii' Weapons — Their probable Origin -Their Nninber and various Tribes- ( slant I'ends — Cannibalism— Language — Adventures of I'uegia Jlasket, .Ji 'i Button, and York Minster — ^Missionary Laboin'S — Captain Gardiner -i liimentable Pnd ............ .jH'i-k Ox. ^-I.::- Ileal .•i^ivii.' Jim m Ari'tIP K'efrii •w 1(11 - liisOOc lllr Alllai'rt rrniis riiilulii . Iff I'arrii '- Si-ago liclw., . Pairr i: LIST OF ILLUSTRATIOXS, 'Ip' \arVM\v- • Til,. S, L' lliwaws -I) — Sariiiit'iit'i - -AVallis a: ■using I'iis,-;.. . 4 <'HKO.MOXYL()GKAPirs. ^ivii. li,,. I \T " I ^^ i tii'tafff in till " ^*" I ■'>ay Icn-itoriis ■'^■iMd aiul Arctic Fux niicI.son'.s 21 S ai7 338 4 I ^ri'fic Ri'giojis, M A P S, ^^.A/c.;,.,^..l,i. j Antarctic I{egion« ''" face 2'age 624 iinarv Ai'ii!: jt be I'atai:.''ii:, 'H Cliiniaii- - lifii' 8talu;'i - -Astiviui'iiii <^^n.\p iiifr Itoiilt— -"I Unusenn'iit." -S WOODCUTS. I- Arctic' Forost anfl A PACK iirora ;j CHAP. . ''''"■ '"ireut Snowy Owl in '1, luin.lcer Travelling in La] 'land , . ,- PAliK Tho Elk [III. Vessel lifted VI. II.rd,.-Breid. from Krabla "% VII /';'^""S-'''i'«'Duck . 84 ^11. I ho Lava.fi..I,i of S„rt- Ilellir . . . ^V out of tl rs of ^lim: ' Their F....:- n AVigwiii;:- Tiil.es-t\: a^kft, Jemr: iniiucr— -HI !• [■IV. Wl it-r l.y To inlvick Whal. I'llers am The C ong TccImt^ framj)us V. Oru>fa Jokull, from J{ veil ir cyni- 0 '•'•'''^ •I''kull, from Pla- fcaii above K vellir . iiajipa- Ent nince to the .Second Portion of Snrts-Hellir The Elder Dtick 28 .39 40 40 .10 irZ .•>s The Klafr The G r-'at Auk VIII. IIver-Fjall The Wi'ld ri IX. V fOOSO Islands II —Eofot on The O sprey X, .Alagdalcna T5av — L .lergen ^pitz- Tho Pti li'nngan ore ^I. Abandoned V Aretie Sli The Arctic F ^11. I,apps M( The Glutton es8el on an ox ng loo 102 10.3 108 109 121 122 139 140 1.1.3 I.U 170 will LIST OF ILLU.STUATIONS. 1 IIAI". I'AISU xiir. Til.' ToriKM HIv.T . 171 Tlw Soti^lik INO XIV. Saniojidc's Mild lluir DwcllillLT'' I.S7 Tlic Siinw Uniiliii;: . 1 !):» XV. (il'Oll]! of ( (sfjllivH 1 00 TllrSMMc ' . •J02 XVI. Tol.olsk . 2(ia Till' .Ai'ij-ali Sli(M'|) 217 XVII. Siliciiiiii Mxilus (11 roiitu . L'18 Till' Srii Otter . •.':i!) XVIII. Gr(Jiii> of Iviissiaii SlciljjrS 211) Th.' Ivory 0 nil '2r>i XiX. .Iiikiits . 2.V2 TIk^ Wliistliiitr Swan 2r)S XX. 'I'lissian I'ofj; SlidLrii , 2.V,) rill' r>lafk (iiiillciiiot 271 XXJ. ()<'liotsk . The Soofcr, or Black 27.-. l)iv«r . 2S0 XXll. Tlio Aleutian I-lands 281 Tlir Silvery I''ox 28',» XXIII. r'('lro['anlo\vsk 2!i(> Till! l']si|uiiiiaiix I)op; 2ii7 XXIV. Tcliutilii ami tluir Tcnt.s . 298 The I'olar Hare 300 XXV. Nativrs of I'liala- selika . nor. The Sen Hear . ;n« XXVI. Esijuiniaux watehing a Seal llolo . . ;il7 The Narwhal . . 337 XXVII. lIiuL^on's Bay Post . 3;i8 The Hiaek Hear . Soo j XXVIII. free Wigwams in I Suninii'r . . .'Jjfi (WW. I'Acl. XXJX. Till Hoi'ky^Ionntaiiih on till' .Mai'ki'n/ie Hivir . . .101 The Iaiix , . :u\'.i XXX. ICiitiliiii .N'ativiH , ;(7ii Till' riiii' Martrn . .'i7ti XXXI. Ilill ;it Kai'iiis on r.rar Lake Kivcr . ;i77 Till' .MuMjiiasli , ;i!)ii XXXIJ. Tlir Torso l.'iM'k . It'.H Till' Oreat Noi'lhern Divir . . IL'.' XXXJIi. Tlii'tinat Iliiiiil'ul.lt (ilaeicr . . '12; Till' Haeorili . . Ilis XXXIV. Jeeher^r-on tlir lialiks of Nowfoundlanil . -I'.V.i Till' Uid-hreasteil ^Irrftaiiser . 1 h XXXV. Portraits of (ireeii- laml Natives . 11' Till' Colony of Suk- krl'toyijiell , /(iJ'di'C I.V Till' Snow ri(ii»i' . -ici XXXVI. Caiio Ci'o/.iir ami ."\loiuit Ti'rror . -li;' Christmas llailiour, Ki r;riH'li'n's Lanil . 17 i Till' SiM'i-m Whale . i;- XXXVII. Mount .Mint!) . . i:.' The Sea Klephant . IS!' ;n« . XXXVIII. Tln' strait of Magel- Tho Miuk 803 Ian . . . ID' The Wandering Alha- trosH . . . oil;; J XXXIX. Group of Patagonian.s Tin The (jiianaeo . . OK i XL. Stati'ii Island — Capo Horn . , . .'i 1 lit Tho r e again rvi I ki'ii/ic s , ;!7ii •ri . ;i7(i s on iviT . ."77 . .'11*11 I hern HI .bukit . 42) , -l.'is •.auks and . -l'.]'.! ustcl . ll> rocn- . 11:1 Snk- titj'acc I. Hi c . -ICl ami . •Hi.; lioiir, -and . \'\ ill) . i;- . 1: nt . 1 > [agcl- . l;i /Vlba- ^ '^''^ f"l^<>^''''n;i rilu.^frailnnH arc tnl„. j „ Tl...KroiM,,s.n,-,Vn.oran.onffIc.ol.orgs. »'ij).. I ro.nr an.l M„„,„ Terror ^•''■•is.n.as irarl.,a,r. K.r.nK.ion'.s Land, •Mount Min(o. nmn^ -Capo •''• fM ""% i ll ■■^, I'VIJ'I' I 4 TIM'; AIJCTrc UKCrONS. RMPHl IHiiil 'Buff^'i Tlie r.:invii ("i nil r-'-'riii'ii b.y ''ii' Si)i,\ V(:j-.iati,,n- N..i'ili,rii I 8eV. !'!lV i,t' Wi..!<_].:xi Cli.M.IIr Ji;i\ Ih-. (i-w.iM I Ni^!!!-. Til An bj llir Snnw -I'Tnwcr-i^rowtli in tlio luV^lu'st L.-iiilmlrs — Clini.ntrr nf Tunilra Vfi-'i'tatiiin-- Soul 111 rn liuundary-lnir nf the Uarri-n (Ji'Dunils — 'I'lirir Jv\ti'Ut — Till' i''iirr>i /one — Aim ii- 'I'l'i'i-s - Sinwucss of tln'ir < ii'nwtli — Mmiutiuiy nl il:i> Ni'i'tihi'ii l-'di'rsi-; — .Mu^ijuitoi's — - Tlw Viiriii\is ('ausi's wliit'li di Irrniinr ilie So\ ■ !'!i\' I't' an AiTiii' Cliuialr- Insular ami Continental I'usillun — C'lirrnii — Wi'!'!- — l-".xlntiir> i,t' Colli i.li-rrvnl Kv Sir M 1!. Iclirr and l'". iCaiir -IIuw is Ma Ir to Mi)ii"irt tlio JJii^uui-^ ot' an Ar.lir AVinlcr ? - I'l t'-- nf a niili CliM.iii' iia\ Mill oui'i' riiiriii'd in ilir Ar.'tii' Ki'Liions — Its ('ansr ai-rordiiiu' to Dr. < i-u ill! llr.T — I'riailiar IJiautii'siiftlu' Arctii' KiL;iiin>--SiiiiMt — Loiilt l-iinai' Ni^'!'- Thr AaroiM. A(' tlic rivers l)i'loiii4'iii<4- t,, tlictlirt'c cMiitiiiciiis — EuTi'iK', Asiii, Aiiii-ric!! — disclinrLic tlit-ir wiitcrs into Uic Polar OcCiMi dv its tributary bays. Tht' tt'rrit(»ri('s (h'aiut'd by tbrso stremiis. sniuc dC wliirb (such as the Mac]\<'u/.it', tlic Lcua, the N I'uisci, and the Olii) rauk aniouo- the iiiant rivci-s nf the lavtli. IniMii. aloiiL;' with the inlands witliiii or near the II -A TIIK I'OLAII \V()IilJ>. Arctic circle, the Viist vc^inn dvcr wliicli tlio frMst-kiii^* rci^^iis suprcinc. Miin styles liiinsi'lf the lord ^A' the earth, iiiid may witli some justice lay claim to the title in more ;j,v]iial lauds where, armed with tlu; plouj^h, he eompels the soil to yi(>ld him ;i variety of truits ; hut in those desolate tracts which aiv wiiiter-honud durin*.;- the greater part of the year, he i> }:ifeuerally a mere wanderer over its surface — a hunter, ;i fisherman, or a herdsman — ami hut few small settlements, separated from each other by immense deserts, i^'ivc proof di his havin;^' made some weak attempts to establish a footing', ft is difficult to determine Avith precision the limits of tli- Arctic lands, since many countries situated as low as latitud ()()° or even 50°, such as South (Ireenland, Laljrador, Kaiii- tschatlca, or the country about Lake Ijaikal, have in thci; clinvati' and productions a decidedly Arctic character, wlii! others of a far more n(»rth(»rn position, such as the coas' of Noi'way, enj(»y even in winter a remarkably mild tem- perature, lint they are naturally divided into two [>rinci]i;! and well-marked zones — that of the forests, and that of tli tre«'less wastes. The latter, comprisin;^' the islands Avithin the Arctic circlr. form a belt, nu)re or less broad bounded by tlu' continent;: shores of the N(»rth Polar seas, and ^'radualiy merj^'ino- toward- the south into the forest-re^'ion, which encircles them with tj^arland of ever«^'reen conifera\ This treeless /on.- bears the name of the ' l:»arren o-vomids. or the 'barrens' in North America, and of ' tundri ' ii Siberia, and European Russia. Its Avant of trees is causii not so much by its hiy'h northern latitude as by the colli sea-Avinds Avhich SAveep luichecked over the islands or tin flat coast-lands of the Polar Ocean, and for miles and niik'! compel even the hardiest plant to crouch before the blast ;nii:«|j crei']) alon^" the j^'round. Nothin;^- can be more melancholy than the aspi^ct of tin boundless morasses or arid Avastes of the tundri. Diiii:.'! inosses and i^'rey lichens form the chief ve^'etation, and fcAV scanty li'rasses ordwartish (lowers that may have fouint n'tu-^'c in some more sheltered spot are unable to relieve tl dull monotony of the scene. Ill will Mnilli or mIc/icc. 11 vc|])iiio',,f A\ il'MI tile and till' ; Idrds ;i{)|)c _-\u adiiiii'; taiil (diiiie (>v lakes. (I iilimu' tlic ('"'m!. aii(l S'riii'ity l.»l J''li);iiii oil i'iir'licr nor: Kai'Ics ii ^ir.iiid hird." I'll-h.'S; ;in(_ I'liiiiiiiM- \vai Uliile th 1 'ijfatory bi n'id sturii'coi ill it forces tl 1 •;• I lie |.uq i^'>\ ct Avaters 111' ri'iiidccr iriiciis (d' th '}' llie co(ded '1 till' stino'iii Thus duriuj I'ltcd scene, ] J"-'iiii\ the tis ':-:■< 'd to pay [''■■- li'iiinvr, to ''"' iis Soon M'lil'"ii*"il Avhie] VAKVlXli ASI'IXTS OF TIIK TLNDliA. In V In wiiilt'i", Avlit'ii uiiiniiil lite luis in(»,stly retivjited to tlio MHiili m- SMUii'lit ii rt'f'uyc ill buiTi»ws iltii(i'. iiitt'iTUjited only by the liootiny of a siiow-owl ov the \i'ljiiiiL;n|'a fox, reii^'us over their vast ex[)aiis(' ; but in s[>rinm-, wlhii till' I»i'mwii earth reappears from under the melted snow and till' swamps bej^'in to thaw, enormous llig'hts of wild liii'ds appeal- u[M)n the scene and enliven it for a few months. ,\ii ailiiiirable instinct leads theii* winu'ed le<>"ioiis from dis- t;iiit cliines t(» the Arctic Avildernesses, where in the morasses (.!• hiki's. on the banlcs of the rivers, on the flat strands, or iiloiiLi' the hsh-teeminn* coasts, they find ar. abundance of liind. and where at the same tinu' they can with yi-reatcr sicnritv liuild tlieir nests and rear thi'ir vounti*. Some ]'iii;ii!i on the skirts -if the forest-i'e^"ion ; otliers, fiyin;^* UurtliiT northwards, lay their e^'n's iijion the naked tundra. Ilau'les and hawks follow the traces of the natatorial and s'.iaiid birds; troops of ptarmi;^Mns roam amony- the stunted dunlies; and when the sun shines, the tinch or the snow- dniiitin',;' wai'bles his merry note. While thus the warmth of summer attracts hosts of lii^ratory birds to the Arctic wildernesses, shoals of salmon jii!id sturg;eons entei- the rivei's in o1)edience to the instinct illiiit forces them to (juit the seas and to swim stream upwards, ■j '1' the purpose of depositin;^' their s[iawn in the tranquil i!-\v vi waters of the stream or lake. Ab(mt this time also fill.' ri'indeer leaves the forests to feed on the herl)s and Hi'lii'iis of the tvnidra, and to seek alon;^- the shoi-cs fanned IV the cooled sea-breeze some [»rotection ai^'ainst the attatdvs u'tlie stin<>'in\' Inair, the Hshes of the water, the beasts of the earth, are all il'liLi'i'd to pay their tribute to his various wants, to appease lii>liun"i'r, to (dothehis Itodv, or to '••ratify his <;ri'ed of Li'iiin. but as Soon as the first frosts of Heptendjer announce the |ili[ir(iach of winter, all animals, with but few exceptions, bstcn to leave a re^iiiu where the sources (»f lifV' must soon lii. The yeese, ducks, and swans return in dense flocks to !■ snuth; the strand-birds seek in some lower latitude a In rsi.il which J'.llows their sharp beak to seize a bnrrowinj.'; '■'% 6 THE I'OLAR Woin.It. proy ; ilio wtitcr-fowl forsiiki^ tlic biiys iUHrclianiicls (liiii, nviII soon bo bl<-)C'laMl iipAvitli ice; tlic rcimliH'v (tiicc iiiorr rt'turnli tlic forest, and in a sIkh-I iiiiic n()lliiii<^- is U't't that can indiin man to jn-olon^- liis stay in the tirrk'ss plain. Soon a. tliiil mantle of snow covits the hanlcncd oartli, tlu' frozen lalcc tlui ieo-l)ounall, except Avliere ih Curious north-east wind sweeps it away and lays hare tli' naked rock. This snow, which after it has once fallen persists initi! tlie long- summer's day has effectually thawed it, protects ii an admirable manner the vci^'etation of the hig'her latituiL- against the cold c>f the long; winter season. For snow i> so bad a conductor of lunit, that in mid-winter in the hi^i'li latitude of 7S° oO' (llensselaer Bay), while the snrfatv temperature was as low as — :}0°, Kane found at two fv deei) a temperatnro of — 8°, at four feet + -^, and at eiglr feet + 2G', or no more than six det^rees below the freeziii;.'- point of water. Thus covered by a Avarm crystal snow-mantle the northern ]»lants pass the long- winter in a comparativil} mild temperatvire, high enough to niaintain their life, Avhiit. without, icy blasts — capalde of converting' mercury into ;; solid body — howl over the naked wilderness; and as the firs' snow-falls are more celhdar and less condensed than tli nearly im[>al[)al>le jtowder of winter, Kane justly ol)servr- that no "• eider(h)WJi in the cradle of an infant is tucked i: more kindly than the sleej>ing'-dress of winter about tli fi'el)le plant-life of the Arctic zone." Thanks to this pn- tecti(»n,aml to the inlluence of a sun which for months circl<- above the horizon, and in favonralde l(»calitie8 calls tovti the pmvers of veg-etation in an incredibly short time, ew- Washington, (irinnell Land, and Spitzl)crg'en are able 1 boast of (lowers. M(n't(ni plucked a crncifer at CapeCoJisf:- tution (SO" 4.V N. lat.l, and, on the lianks of Marv Mintui Itiver (78° r)'J'), Kane came across a flower- growth whirl: thoug-h drearily vXrctic in its type, was rich in variety in;. colouring'. Amid festuca and other tufted grasses twinklr, thi» purple lychnis and the white star of the chickwt\'il and, not without its ]ileasing- associations, he recognised solitary hesperis — the Arctic representative of the wallflower of liomt*. ^5 Vc^'ctal the >a.> faiiiilic gi'ouinl: more ui iiidividi riitely ( [I 'in'ii li'ii In more tli(i exc Avliicli iiiuiif 51 > (i^\ or ;^it'tliat ri\ niilil thev py Asiatic !iii::iin, mo :fii' lis the iillN'U llill t'vcii reac ivtrcat fui -■< lasts of liiid itself fh'iice A LVinorica o TIIH iJARKK.VS. its until cttects ii latitii.lc^ snow h lie lii'^'li surl'iK' two li'i- at ci;4'li' tVeeziu'^- ^-iiuintk'. liirativcl} e, wlult'. into ;; the i\v> Kill 111- >l)servr- nclcc'd i; )(»iit til- his pi'"- IS ciivl'' lis fori! no, vw'. able \' > Const:- Mintur I Avliir!'.. >ty :ii'' hvinldt KWCt-'' L'nisrd riinow. yo\t to tlio liT-lions and niossos, wliieli furni tlic chief Vf^-t'iiitioii of the tiveloss zono, tlio criu-ifenL', the {^-rasses, ihe saxifi'Mu'as, the caryo[»hylla\ and the conijiosita^ are tlie fiiinilies of i>lants most larj^vly represented in the barren ^nnnids or tundri. Though veLu'etatioii becomes more and more imiforni on advaneing" to tlie nortli, yet the number of iiidividual plants does not decrease. When the soil is niode- Tiitely dry, the surface is covered by a dense carpet of lichens {r,,//^/V/'/(o<"'), mixed in damper spc»ts with Icelandic moss. Ill niorc tenacious soils, other plants flourish, not liowevi'r to tlie exclusion of lichens, except in tracts of meadow around, wliicli occur in sheltered situations, or in the alhivial iiiniidated ilats where tall reed grasses or dwarf wullows iVcipiently grow as closely as they can stand. It miiy easily bo supposed that the boundary line which £!•■] Ill rates the tundri from the forest zone is both indistinct {111(1 irregular. In some parts where the cold sea-winds have 11 wider range, the barren grounds encroacli considerahly 11)1(111 the limits of the forests; in others where the con- liu'iration of the land prevents tlieir action, the wi>ods ji'lvaiice farther to the north. Thus the barren grounds attain their most soutlierly limit in Laln-ador, where tliey descend to latitude .')7°, and tliis is ButUriently explained by the position of that blealc peninsula, h iiiii(l(.'d on three sides by icy seas, and washed by cold currents fidiu the ncn'tli. On the opposite coasts of iiudsoiTs IJay they begin about 00% and thence gradually rise towards the iiKnitli of the Mackenzie, where the forests advance as higli {IS (is\ or even still farther to tlie north along the l(»w banks iot'tliat river. From tlie Mackenzie the barrens again descend |tiiitil they reach Bering's Sea in G5° N. L. On tlie op])(»sit(i ;^tr Asiatic shore, in the land of the Tchuktclii, they Ix'giii |{i::aiii, more to the south, in C)-\°, thence continually rise as ,:M\v as the Lena, where Anjou Il)uiid trees in 71° N. L., and iftlicu tall aii'ain tow^ards the Obi, where the forests do not |('\tii rcat-h the Arctic circle. From the Obi the tundri Jrtioat further and further to the north, until finally, on the ?i>asts of Norway, in latitude 7o°, they terminate with the and itself. Hence -\v(> see that the treeless zone of Europe, Asia, and L\iii( liea (X'cupies a space larger than the whole of ihirope. TIIK I'OLAll WOUI.l). Even the Africun Saluiru, or the Piiiii[»iis of South Ameri(;i. sireriiiii Tuiidri. But 1li. pesses.siou of a few hunth'ed s(|U!ire miles of fruitful territon on tiu.' south-ANestern I'rontiers of his vast empire would be di ^•reater value to the Czar than that of tlK)se boundless wastes, whieh are tenanted oidy by a few wretched pastoral tribes. or some equally wretched lishermen. The Arctic forest-rey^ions are of a si ill "greater extent thim the vast ireeless plains whieh they encircle, ^\'hen we (-(in- sider that they form an almost continuous belt, stretchiiii: throui^h three parts of the world, in a breadth of from lo° 1. 20°, even the woods of the Amazon, which cover a surfiKr lifteen times greater than that of the ITniied King(hiiii, shrink into comparative insi^'uificance. L'nlike the tro2»i<-ii! forests which are characteris('d by an immense variety (i ti'ees, these northern woods are almost entirely composed di conifera.', and one sin^-le kind of fir or pine often cover- an immense extent of it'round. The European and Asiatii s])ecies ditfer, however, from tlu»se which ^row in America. Thus in the Russian i-mpire and Scandinavia we iind tin Scotch tir {Piiuis aiilcislris), the Siberian lii" and larch (.l/.n> sihIn'cK, Ijorly xihirii'((), the Picea obovata, and the Pinib cend)ra ; while in the Hudson's Bay territories the avooiK principally consist of the Avhite and black spruce (.l/'A- elder are also nujt with in the Arctic forests; and both nndi '^■(f shelter of the woods and l>eyond tlu'ir limits, nature, as ii (..> (MMipensate for the want of fruit trees, produces in favoui- f : ' i('calities an abundance oi' bilberries, bo, &c. {Eitifhinon, Vacciiii'iirii), whose fruit is a ^tciii boon Lo man and beast. When coUj^'ealed ])y the autumiiai frosts, the berries frecpUMitly remain han;^in^' on the busllo^ until the snov.' melts in the followin;L4' June, and are then ii consi(h'rable r(>source to the Hocks of water-lbwl mit;ratiiiL' to their northern breeding-places, or iu the bear awakeniii from his winter sleep. A IMI lai iiii.l< travi'ln ycai's. . iiiiTcasi tli'CI'rjili clii!lh' ( t> till' s llllt lint fllr I'm re ■with ill Jiiiilliilih Baiiiiiicr, lint l;ist j^mwlli ( till' IH il't iii-taiici>. rint tllir! tuinliM. f lli-llt,-(| ill!" i'l'ai Cju.'iitly a until liiui qiiislicd 1 of licln-n.s Vi'iiMirc fi .\ tliii'ii B-i-lli iVol tlh'ir li;in till 'M' 1|( l\ aiil I'vcii •Vcliujiii Ills lllHsS ill tl \>'A\\ the khii'.^ty tlii The (111 ll'i't \r [\ le "Wcioil- > (J/'/V- iiiul iln I'cli trei- ic dwai't ivev iiiii; and til' h ninlci ire, as i; favour- 's, eiMii- a ^TCiit itiniiiKi! leii tl iL^raliiii: likeiiiiii. AiMitlii'i- (listiiiclivf cliaraftev (if tlic forests of \\\v lii^^'li latiiii.l.'s is llicir aiipareiit youth, so that <;-('ii('rally tlic iiavrll.T wiMild hardly su[.]»ose thciii to '•(• inoiv than fifty ycais. or at most a cciituvy old. 'Jlieir juvcuili' appcaraiiei' iii.'ivascs oil advaiiciii;^' northwards, until suthlcidy tlu'ir til civjiiil au't' i^ rt'vcalcd tiy the thiclc Inisli'.'.s of Ii(dK>ns which cli'tlif or hau;^' dttwu from tlieir slirivcUed l)on«j;'lis. Fnrtlier arc found seattercd licrc and tlicrc. -out ll. ll'o-C tl'.'OS l»iii not SO numerous as to nu»dify tlu' j^'eneral appearance o .f til villi Ii irr I. ranches, and Avhich prove by their nunil)ers how fre- (jii.'iiliy and how vainly they have striven apiiust the wind, Until (iiially the last remnants of arboreal vei>'etation, van- qi!i>ii((l liy the blasts of winter, seek refui^'e under a carpet. ot liili.ns and mosses, from Avhich their annual shoots hardly Veil' ure to ])e;'p forth. : A third jK'culiarity which distinti-uishes the forests of the B" tl th I roll! len- naniuess c those of the trojiical world is what may 1 1( e called lint •haracter. There the traveller finds none of noxious plants whose Juices contain a deailly ]»oisoii, •veil thorns and prickles are of rare occurrence. No teiieiuous snake ;.^lides throii^'h the thicket; no crocodile .Jinks in the swam[»; and the northern lieasts of pre\ — the i:ii'. 'he Ivnx, the wolf—are far less danwrous and blood- iir>iy ihaii tlu' larL>'e feli(Uo of the torrid zone. 1)Us1k'^ r ''''■ '"'"I'i'i'i'^ively small number of animals liviiii;' in the irrtie ferests corresponds with the monotony of their ves4V- i\\ loll. llls^. ct^ Here we should seek in vain for that immense variety troops of oaudy Ijirds Avhich in the or tl lose >r;i/.iliai I woods excite the admii'at ion, and not unfrequently 10 TIFK rOLAR WOULD. cnuso tlic iiii' of tin' AVimdcrcr ; Ikto wo sIkhiM in Viiin cxjx'et 1<) liciir tlu' I'lii morons voicos tliiit ivsouiid in lln tropical tliiclvets. No noisy monkeys or fjniiiTt'lsonu' piirrot> settle on tlu.' branches of the trees; no shrill cicadie or melancholy <^-oat-sucL'ers interrupt the solemn stillness of tin ni^'lit; the howl of the lnin<4'ry woll', or the hoarse screech oi some solitary binl of prey, iire almost the <^>nly sounds that ever disturb the repose of these a^vful solitudes. When the tropical hurricane sweejis over the vir^-in forests. it awakens a thousand voices of alarm ; but the Arctic stoiMii. however furiously it may blow, scarcely calls forth an ecli" from the dismal shades of the pinewoods of tlu; north. Ill one respect oidy the forests and SNViimi)s of the norilurii re^•ions vie in abundance of animal life with those of llir ('(juatorial zone, for the le^'ions of ^'uats which the shml polar summer calls Ibrth from the arctic morasses are a iic less intolerable pla^'ue than the mosquitoes of the tropical marshes. Thouo-h aji'riculture encroaches but little upon the Arctic woods, yet the agency of man is gradually working a chanL;i' in their aspect. Large tracts of forest are continually wastc'l by extensive 11 res, kindled accidentally or intentionally, which spread with ra[>idity over a wide extent of count vv. and continue to burn until they are extinguished by a heavv rain. Sooner or later a new growth of tind^er springs u]'. but the soil being generally enriched and saturated witii alkali, now no longer brings forth its al)original llrs, but givf^ birth to a thicket of beeches {Jichda alba) in Asia, or vi aspens in America. The line of perpetual snow may naturally be expected t ' descend lower and lower on advancing to thepcde, and heini many mountainous regions or elevated plateaux, such as tli< interior of Spitzbergen, of Greoidand, of Novaya Zemlya, Ac. which in a more temp(^rate clime Avould be verdant Avitli woods or meadows, are here covered with vast fields of ico, from which frequently glaciers descend down to the verge c! the sea. But even in the highest northern latitudes, no laii'i has yet been found covered as far as the water's edu'e witli eternal snow, or where winter has entirely subdued the po\voi> of vegetation. The reindeer of Spit/bergen lind near 8(' ,1 I X. f-. li fill' S 1 1 1 i Island, fnr tll.M liir as liistcrcd lh';i( |V( • •I'lisjiln iIm-cc b lirlic\C 1 lill-. it "I" wiiiti ll'lll|M'IM' lir~i.lcs Ilif lirrto "^\lM'ii I'm ^'■\i rity till' warn liiK'iilal ||"li' liav MMlllllcl'"- iicaivr to WfsItTIl "I ■•^ca, li; Illi'illl sill <'!' uatt'i- Mlii'iia ; 'I'llr iiil ]'"i'taiic(' Aivtic c'li l^atliiTs it ,iiii'l lill til villi ice. ; flMll ,,f (,,, t;ii' ^(_uitli( <•!' til.' :\ii, J,-", liilivd l'.''ii ill li >'ii'l is ai) AKcTic vi:(;kt.\ti<>x. 11 .0 Avc'ii'- ioiuilly. , Ik'HV} it !4'ivi- 1, or ^'' ^oted t' (1 lionii. as tliv ya, ^i'.. lit Avhl: of in'. no hiii'l lo-e -witl; X. |j. lidii'Ms nr n-rasscs 1o t't't'tl u|»oii ; in ravoiiriil>lt' scmmviis i1h' sikiw melts l»y i]i<' «Mitl of June on the plains of MclvilK' Ishiml, iiihI iiuiiii'rous Icnnaiii^'S rffjuiriiiiLif vc^Tlablo food [\iv llhir siiltsislciict' iiiliabit the desorts of New Siboria. i\s l';ii' iis jiiiiii iniN ivaclic(l to the iiorili, vci^vtalion, wlu'u InsttTt'd I)y a sludtcrcd sihiatioii and the refraction of solar lii';it from the ro(d ecpiator, has a winter of -:'><■' ••'. and a summer of +ti(>" (>'. The inlluenee of the winds is likewise of consMerable im- jiirtanee in determinin*:^ the greater or lesser S(>verity of an j\rriie climate. Thns the northerly winds which prevail in A]l;illiirs iJay and Davis's Straits dnrine^ the smnnier months, jjiiii'l till the straits of the American north-eastern Archipelay-o fviili ice. are probably the nniin cause of the abnormal depres- -^ien ('f temperature in that quarter; while, on the contrary, lie southerly winds that prevail during- summer in the valley j>\' the ]\rackeu/ae tend e-reatly to extend the forest of that ,*:l[''^'''i^^'d rcLt'ion nearly down to the slun-es of tiie Arctic Sea. ^Aeii in the depth of a Siberian winter, a sudden chan;n'e of Mnid is able to raise tlu> thermometer from a mercury-con- M TIIK I'OI.AK \\(J1{LI). I l^'Ciiliii*^ cold t(» a tf'iiipcruturc iilxtvr the t'r('('/,iiii,'-|)i>iiit i>\' Wilier, :ni, Is')!., while the toi*mer was winterint;* in Smith's Souml (78° •»"' N. lat.), the mean (A' his Ix'st spirit-thermonieti ! sh(»wo(I the uiiexaniplcd temperature oi' — (!S° or |()()^ In-lnw the iree/inn'-poiut of water. Then (dilori<' ether . heeiim, aolid, and careful!}^ prepared chloroform e\hil)ited a »4Tanul;ii ]»elliele on its surface. The exhalations from the skin investnl the i'xposed or partially clad parts with a wreath of va[Miin, The air had a perceptible puiiL;eucy u[»on inspirtition, ainl everyone, as it Avere involuntarily, breathed ^^-iiai'dedly with (•oni]>ressed lips. Al»out the same time (February 1> ainl 10, 1851), Sir E. Belcher experienced a cold <»f —5')^ in Wellin;4-toii Channel (7o° :>]' N.), and the still lower teiii- periiture of —(12° on January 18, I8oo, in Nortlnnnberlaiu.l Scmnd (70° 52' N.). Whether the temperature of the air descends still lowci on advanciu}^- towai'ils the pole, or whether these extrenn de^^-rees of c<.»ld are not sometimes surpasseil in those moun- tainous reL4'ions of the north which, thouj^-h seen, have iievci yet been explored, is of course an undecided quest{(»n : s^ much is certain, that the observations hitherto nuide duriii;: the "winter of the vVrctic regions have been limited to ten short a time, and are too few in Jiiimber, to enable us ti determine with anv deii-ree of certainly tho.se points whciv the <4'reatest cold prevails. All we Ivuow^ is, that beyond the Arctic Circle, and eii^lit or ten degTees further to the south in the interior of tlir continents of Asiii and America, the average temperature ot the wijiter le to bear the exccs- sividy low temperature of an Arctic winter, which must aiipc:ii truly appalling to an inhabitant of the temperate zone. A thick fur clothing ; a hut small and low, where the waniitli of a tire, or simjdy of a train-oil lamj), is husbanded in;: narrow liiiiiian eliiii;if (' Alt.T w.iniit li ClH'ili'll.- ;j-lV;|trr iiiii'i'iiiil ilni'.Msi IiiimI. o} (•iri'iilat( of I III' II Cl|s(,,|||,., Willlrl'. •Til.. ; ll'l.'l'f oil 1rii|iics. KniMi'ii, JTmiIiic'S Avilifri- t, liii'ii. P III {'[u-V] ol oiir p e>l;il.lis]|( I'l'IMliiciit Oil (uir > C''i\-,'i'ii|o. is -;;()/ Tlirn. i in III!' iid! p'trili,.,! ;i B:illks" L; ill \..rt]i Iii"iiiit;tin or the sea, lc;i\rs. t'ru aii'l eii;|])li to uliicli •< '|ll(ii;|s. « lli'licaliu"' AUCTIC (•(»!, I». of tlic I it arc ot luerciiry I' exci'S- appcav |nK'. A ^vaniitli hI ill :■ iiiiitmw sjiaci', iiiid iil)nvt' all, the woiulcrfiil power of ilic liiHiiJii loiist it iitioii to arcoimiKxliitt' i1 self to cvrrv (•liiin;^'*' of rlinialc. ^d fill' to couiitfract tin' riLi'our of the cold. Altira vti'v lew davs llic ImmIv di'vclopcs ail iiicrcasiii'.;' Av.niiitli iis till- t lii'niiomt'tci' (Icscciids ; for the air bciiii;' (•(ii'ilfii.^cd l)_v ill'' fold, til'' liniu's inliaic at every bn^itli a. • iTcatiT (iiiaiititv (tf oxvu'eii, which of course accelerates the iiiti'i'iiai [irocess of coiidiusi ioii, wildcat the same time an iiirr, asitiii' a|>i>ct ite. ti'i'atilicd with a co|ii(»iis su|»[»ly of animal luiiij. oT ilcsh and fat, enriches the Mood and enahles it to circulale more viL;"orously. Tims not only the hardy native of the iiortli. lull even the healthy tvav(dler soon e-,.ts ac- cii^toiiied to hear without injury the ri^-ours of an Ai'cti(3 Avintcr. •The niysteri(»us conqtensations,' says Kane, ' hy whi(di we iid;!|pt oiu'sclves to (diinate are more striking' here than intln^ 1rH|iics. Ill the Polar /one the assaidt is immediate and fjiHlden. and, uidikethe iiisi'i;d>tished habits of fre(» exposure, and active cheerful teni- jieiMuieut, has SO iuured himself to the cohl, that he sh'eps on our slcdev j(»urneys without a blank'i't or any other Cevei'iue- than his walking' suit, wdiile the outside temperature is —■>{) . 'fhere are m-any i>roofs that a mihh'r climate once reie'ued ill llie northern ree-iims of the e-htbo. Fossil pieces of wood, petfilied acorns and lir-coues liavc bocii found in the Interior of j!p;iiiks* Land by M'Cluve's slede-iue- parties. At Anakerdluk ill Xorth Greenland (70° N.) a lar^v forest lies buried on a :;^ieimtain surrounded by e-laciers, lOSO feet above the level -'^t'the sea. Not (»nly the trunks and braucdies, but even the leaves, fruit-cones, and seeds have been invservedin the S(»il, ||iid enal)U' the botanist to determine the species of the plants 4' uliich they belong*. They show that, besides firs and 'il'i"ias, oaks, plantains, (dnis, mae'iiolias, and even laurels, li'iiiatiiiM' a climate such as that of Lausanne or Geneva, u Tin: I'uLAU WnUI.I). i ell lluiirisIi(Ml fliiriii^' llif miocfiif |iri'i{' llic ciirtli'M iiistnrv S|iit/,i»i'r;^'tii Wiis liki'wisc covfrt'd willi sliitdv I'nrcsls. 'i'lic siiiiic |io|)liir« iilid tilt' silliic sWiliri|t-L'Vlirt'SS I'l'ti iihIIhhi ilnhinni) wlliili llicii llourislicd in Ndrlli ( Jivi-nliiiMl luivr liccii ioiiiid in ;i lossiliscd st;ifr ill Hell Sound (Td" N.) by tin- Swedish natni- iilisls, wli(» iilso discovered :i pliintiiiii iindii linden iis liii^li ,i> 7er^n'n eaniiot have heen coldei* than thm which n<»w reii^ns insonthern Sweden and Norwav, eiLihten (h'^rees nearer to tlie line. We know that at [»resent the lir. the poplar, and the hee <4'row lit'teen dey'rees further to the north than the [tlanta — and the niiocciie [leriod no (lt e.\liil»ited the same jirn portion. Thus the |ioplars and lirs wliiih then i^rew ii Spitzljeru'en alon^' with plantains and lindens must lia\' ran<4'ed as fai' as the pole itself, sup[)osiny' tha< [)oiid to li' dry liind. fn the miociMie times the Arctic /one evidently presente*! a. very ditf'erent aspect from that whi(di it wears at [)resenl, Now, during' the greater |)art of the y<'ieratnre of countries situated tar to the south, it then consisted of verdant lands covered with luxui-iant forests and bathed by an ojx'U sea. What may have been the cause of these aniazinj;" chant;i> of climate;' The readiest answi'r seems to be — a. ditt'ereni distribntionof sea and land ; but then' is no reas(»n to beliew that ill the niioeene times there was less land in the Arcti' /one than at presi-nt, nor can any possiblo combinatioi! ii water and dry land be ima<^'ined sutticient to account for flu growth of laurels in (Greenland or of ])lantains in Spit/beri:vii, Dr. Oswald Hoeris inclined to seek for an explanation of tin })henonienon, not in more local terrestrial chan^-es, but in ii diiferonce of the earth's position in tln^ heavens. We now know that our sun, with his attendant plancb our c;|j' into til H\ St. 'Ml villi St: 111! VC Wil 0> lllr It ChlStrlVt or less.' liiiM' a ji and IJiii.. earili, l)L' til.' h.'Mt poles wil hi> herd Wlli.'ll CJI gla.'iiil |i Ar.iic el of an iiit Con. lit lull Tliiiii|_.| diiiu' a>|) btilii.l.'s e-A'-,...,| (1 8riii\\-c|;|.| (k'liiiir; ,, li^^ht iii-l Oontiiiiial she llllS I whit. '11. 'ss Tm'' iltllKis] til'' iiati\f their hunt I Silt of and satellites, performs a vast cii\de, enibrac in<4' perhai hundreds ttf thousands of years, round another star, and tliatj Avo are constantly enterinj^- new reg'ions of space niitra veiled Inl ( IIAXii; IN AUn'M Ci.lMATK. 1-. ;ntUli wlii'li id ill ;i iiiitur- lii'^li ;i> llK'S 1 111 nil tlnit 'm'liti'i'ii [dilliiain nil' I'l" o'l-cw ii ist llilVi lit to 1" insciiti''! |^>n'si'iii, .{.' i^'hu'ia! cpvi'sso.- il tlK'ii ■L'Sts illlil t'luiim''> dill* 'IT I It ;) l)»'U<'\r lie Al'fti'' lalion I'l for til' IzIm'VU'''"' hn (if til' Ibiit ill ; pliiiit'i- ^H'rliii I'- ll lid tlui' Ivellod I'.v (Mil rartli lirfoi'.-. \Vf cuiih' from I In- iimIxMowii. iiiid |tliiii;^r iiiln t III' iinkiinw II : liiil so iiiiK'li is ci'i'tniii tliiit oiir solur 8\stilii inlis ill |.rrM'llt lliroll^-ll il Splirr lillt tllilllv pl'Oplt'd villi stiirs, and there is no reiismi to doitld tliiit it iiiiiy oiiee ll;i\c Willldered t lll'oliyll one of t llose celest iill provinces wln'l'e, as tile ti'les(o|ie shows US, constelhit ioiis iiiH' fur more densely chisteied. Hilt, its every stiir is il l»lii/in^' sun, the ermter or lesser iiiiiiil»er (if theso heiiveiily bodies must eviii th<' tellllK'riltlire of spilee. and !liiis we limy siii)|Mise tliiit diirin;4'the niiocene [)eriod oiir eiirili. iieiie^' lit t hilt time in ii iini>iih>us sich'reiil rej^'ioii, enjoyed the lieiielit tif il higher tempenitiire which (dothed even its peles with verdure. Ill t he eoiii'se of ii;4'es t he siiii coiidiieted hi> held of pliinets into more solitiiry iiiid eohler I'ei^ions, vlii'li raused the Wiiriii mioeeiie times to he foMoWi'd hy tlie glaiial |ierio(K diiriii:;' whiidi the Swiss fhit lands bore an All lie eharacti'i', and hiially the sun enierLied into ii spiiee of an intermediate i haraeter, whicdi (h'termiucs the present Conditieii I if the (dimates of our i^lolie. 'riiMiit^h Nature «;eiierally wears a more stern iiiid forl>id- diii'j aspect oil iidvillieiii;^' towiirds the poh', yet the lii^h kititinlis ha\e many beauties of their own. Notliinj^' can ^Xierd the iiiayaiificeiKH' of iin Arctic sunset, ch>tliin^' the glH'W-clad iiiiiiintains and the skies with all tlie ^'lories of CcloiU': or lie more serenely beiiiitifiil than the (dear stiir- li^lil lULilit, ilhiniiiied by the brilliant moon, which for days Ooiilimially eirtdes iiround tlie liori/oii, never setting- until slie has run her Ion;;' eourse of hrii^ditness. The uniform wliiteiirss of the laudsciipe iind the e-ciu'ral traiisjiiireiicy of iiie atmosphere iuhl to tlie lustre of her bciims, which servi' th'' natives to ^•ui(U' tlieir luimudic life, iuid to lead them to th'ir liuiitiii«4'-e'rolllids. I'Mt of nil the imii^aiiticeiit spectacles tluit relieve the Bfli 111 ilniious ;^l('Oiii of the Arctic winter, there is none to equal I he miu^ical Ijeauty of the Aurora. Niiifht covers th' Miew-t'hid earth ; the stars odimmer feebly throu^di the ha/'' whirh so fre(iueiitl\ dims their brilliancy in the hii^h Uktitiide?,. when siiddeidy it broad and clear bow- of lij^ht spans the li(i|-i/oii. in the direction where it is traversed by th(> njiii -iiietie meridian. This bow soiiudinies remains f(.)r severiil i<; TIIK l'(»l,.\l{ \\'OKI,|>. hours, lu'iiviii;^' or wavin;^" to iiiid fro, Ix-forc it sends tortl, strciiins of lii^lit ascoiKUii;^' to the zenith. Sometimes tlicsr Hashes pr(»(*ee(l I'rom the how of li|j;ht ahme ; at others the; simultaneously shoot forth from many o[»posite parts of tlir horizon, and form a vast sea (»f fire whose hrilli.iut waves nr,' continually ehan^-ino- their position. Finally they all uniti in a magnificent crown or cupolaof lii^ht, with the ai)pearaiUT of which the phenomenon attains its highest derive ^l splendour. The brilliancy of the streams, which are com- monly red at their base, j^'reen in the middle, and liarciit, the red approachinj^- t(i;i clear blood-red, the "Tcen to a pale emerald tint. On turning.' fi'oni tlu^ ilaminn" firmanuMit to the earth, this also is seen ti |l;'1ow with a ma^'ical liy'ht. The dark sea, black as jet, foiiii- a, strikin*;' contrast to the white snow plain or the distant ici mountain ; all the ontlines trend>le as if they belonged to llh unreal world of dreams. The imposin<4' silence of the niL;lr hei^'htensthe charms of the ma tlio nil:]!: ilissolvt's. ss viviil; upon till' Sg^iyst^jS^-*^^ "' iimst ( I 'ii'iiiitif'u imis (if fl 'jiiarc-tor: MISK OXK.N ASU KLKS ■^^M^A^^ ("iTAr'ri;if ii AltCriC LAM) (ilA|)i;ri'i;i)S AM) lilK'D- 'I'iif Iiciiulcrr -Sli'Urlnvc of its Viu<\ — Chitli-riiiu Noise whfii W.illviii^- Aii'li-rs I'.xtraordiiinrv Olt'ai'lory I'nwcrs — 'l'iii> Icrl.indic Moss rivs.-in aiiil t'oi'incr i;aim(> of till' lu'imlciT— Its iiiviilii.-il-lr (,iiialilii s as an Ai''-t ir >loiiii st ic Aiiiiiiai ■-liovoit^ iiiist ()|ii)r('ssiori -Kliclllir.s ot' I 111' liciliilfV — Till- Wolf — 'I'll (ilutloii oi' Wolvcriiii' — riail-tlirs — 'I'iic lOlk or Moosi- Ilri'i- — TUc .Mu-l-c-ox - 'i'lir W'iM Slifi'U of flic liorkv Moiiiitaiiis — 'I'lir Silufiaii Ai'uali Tln' An'i ic 'X--lts hnri'iw I' Aiialida- Tl 'rile I,riiiiiiiiit:s — 'I'lirir .M itii'atioii — Tlif I. all! iiiil limit s aii'i laii iiii'S — Aivti !■ >no'.\ -I'liiil iji: iiitiii a-caLMc Ui'ouiii'i liy a I)ol|' rpiIE rciiidt'or luav well IxM-allcd llic oaiiu'l ol'tlit' iioi'llii'rii wastes, iVtr it is a tin Ifss valtialil (' ('(>in[iaiiii«ii to t hi' \,a\)- llainli'V or to tlio Sainoji'dc tlian tli<' 'sliiii of the iIomt! ' lo il!ir wandering' BodoTiiii. It is tin' oiilv iik'HiIi'M- of the hiuiiicfoiis (leer t'aiuily tliiii lias Ihtii (loiiicst icali'd li_v iiiau ; jlnit lliou;^'li iindouhtctlly llio iiiosi ust-l'iil. it is li_v no uicaiis lie most coiucly ol'its rare. Its clear dark ('_V(> has, iiidcod, ^i hi'.iutit'ul oxprossioii, hut it has iioithcr ihc iiol.)l(^ [iro]>or- tioiis of the sta^' nor tln^ o-vafo of tlu' rov'biudc, and its thick Mill n't'-t'orinod body is far iVom licino- a model ol' eloua ncc 18 TlIK I'OI.AU \V(»I{F;1). Its If'H's iirc sliovt ;in(l tliicls, its f'cot l)roii iK'liind (which arc l)nt sliy'litly develo}»ed in the fallow derr jind other niemhers of the family) are consideraldy prolonj^'ed ; a striietnre which, hy <4'ivin;4' the animal a broader base td stand upon, i»revents it from sinlcinj^' too deeply into the snow or the morass. Had the foot of the reindeer been formed like that of our sta*;-, it would have been as unable to drag- tin Laplander's sled«^'e with such velocity over tlie yieldinj^' snow- tields as the camel wonld l)e to perforin his long- marclns thron '-pad <»ii likewise no siuall ilces, ami ioTatinlb inai" ■leal. ho eausi }e (li^'it t n\ s Mil aisos It- jove aiM '•, liaviu. lie lei 1 lit |very '•"i'- vein ark lineinluT f tlii 111 t> 11 ows ilti'i- 111'' VfiiiiiLi' has been weaned, a boftlet'iil daily; l>ut the <|iialily i> e\( if )nsi.sl> a I'lleiit, for it is aneomiiionly thick and nutritious. Inidst entirely of ereani, so that a ^'ivat deal of wali'i'caii lie aihled l».'ti»re it beediiies inferior to the best et»\v- iiiilk. Its taste is exeelleut, but the Ijutter iiuub' from it is raiicid and hanlly to be eaten, while the ebeese is vei-y j^'odd. The (-lily fond of the reindeer durin,4' Avinter et^nsists of iiis, and the most surprising" eireumstauei' in his liis'.ory is till' instinct, (ir the extraordinary olfactory powers, whereby he is ciiahjcd to discover it wdieii hidden beneath the snow. Ihiwcvcr (h-cp the Liclnni rdtxj'tfi'r'nin^ I'li'V be buried, the animal is aware of its jiresciice the moment he comes to the s|Mit. and tJiis kind of food is never so an'reeable to him as when he di^'s for it himself In his manner of doing" this he is icinai'lcahly a only pai'tly been brought uiuh.'r tlu' yoke of man, and ^^allder■^ in large wild herds both in the North American A\;i-;rs, wlicrc it lias never yet been re(biced to servituih-, 111 llie forests and tumh'as of the Old World. Aiiii'i'i ca, w here it is called 'caribou,' it extends fi-on l,ilii,id(ii" to Midville Fsland and Washingt(m Land; in lirelv tW' 1 iiepc and Asia, it is found from Laidand and Norway, and i '111 tlif mountains of jMongolia and the banks of tlie Ufa as ■^ Is SCI ^ ' ''^ Xo\aja Zemlya and Spitzljergen. Many centuries ago - pvehalily during" the glacial period— its rang"e was still more K ntnio> 20 TIIK I'OLAIf WOULD. oxinisivo, iis rcindiMM" bonos nvc fr('([U('nt1y ImiiikI in Froudi iiiid (Jcniiiiii ciivcs, inuT bear tcstinioiiy to the severity (»!' tlie climate whieli at tbat time rei^'iie*! in Central I<]ur<)pi>, for tin- I'eindeor is a cold-loviii;^" animal, and will not tlirive under si milder sky. All attempts to prolon"<^'ner saw some of these animals, wliich were quite iani^nid and emaeiated dnrijig the summer, although care had been taken to provide them with a cool grotto to whieh they eouM retire dnring the warnun* hours of the day. Tn summer tlic reindeer can eniov h-'alt:< only in the fresh mountain air or along the braiMug > a-sii 'i'e, and has as great a longing for ii low temp(n-aturc as man i"; I he genial warmth of his Hresidf in winter. The reindeer is eas !^ ti-nied ;.n any domestic aninuil reipiiring- shelter and stores of provisions dviring" the long' winter months, and make the reindeer the tit com- panion of the northern nomad, Avhose simple wants it almosi wholly su]>])lies. During his Avanderings, it carries his tent and scanty household furniture, or drags his sledge over the snow. On account of the Aveakness of its back-bone, it is less tit for riding, and requires to be mounted with care, as ;i violent slnxdc easily dislocates its A'ertebral column. Yen Avould liardly suppose the reindeer to be the same animal avIk'ii languidly creeping' along under a rider's AA-eight, as Avlieti. unencund)ered by a load, it vaults Avith the lightiu'ss of a binl over the obstacles in its Avay to obey the call of its master, The reindeer can be easily trainc^d to drag a sledge, but great care must hi) taken not to beat or otherAviso illtreat it, as it then becomes obstinate and quite unmanageable. When forced to drag too heavy a load, or taxed in any Avay abovo its streng'th, it not seldom turns round upon its tyrant, mul attacks him Avith its horns and fore feet. o saAT liimso L'lf I I'lPlii tit S I ■ aiiini; A ft everv U'"0(|, di'lii-ni h'Sl. |\ I'lidilii In llie .llid uti hi.Ciis ; til Ml (,f '"!• tlli: lll Toi', s.'lil to • Ife e.\1i 'I'illis ., Ii.il-dly 1 * of (Ih. iIm' Sjiiii , ini'iitiipii with a 'j; l.ii' MKire The r, .^'Ml's, hu tiiiiii six W'df. and ■ which he . iiiid is sai . !•- a hi Mlt „:iiid the [f^cliihiiiit; ^'U'l'eeing -ll'ilhh. ,,( F'''l'' to s( hat ii cat pi 'I Ml tl'i'Cs r '"''■'' it a U'h,.„ , TiiK i:i:iM)i:i;ij .\.m» its knkmiks. 21 ■cni-li f til" idov ii )o-iciil diolni L l)Ofli ■ coiiM icr the aiv • tor !i iiresitli' mod t(i nuostic subsist- s about lic'lost'il uiitrios oincstic ni^' ilu' : coin- aliuosi lis tent vcr ilit' IVmiii its t'inv, lit' is llicii ()I>li<4'(Ml lo ovcvtuiMi his slt'tl^-c. ;iiif tlir niiiiiial li;is abiitt'd. Alter tin- (lentil oi' tlir n-iiKleer, it iiiiiy truly he s;iul that evei'_\ ]i;n't of its budj is put to some use. The llesh is very u'ood. iiiid tilt,' toii bones and lioiiis: till' latter servo also, like the cdaws, tor the prejiara- tioii (if an excellent <;'luo, which the Chinese, \vlit> buy them i'oi' this purpose of the I^ussians. use as a nutritious jelly, 111 Toniea tho skins of new-born reindeer are preparetl and sent to St. Petersburg' to bo manufactured into <^loves, which life extremely soft, but very ik'ar. Tims the ct»i-oa-nut palm, the tree of a hundred uses, liaiilly rentiers a <4'reater variety of sei'vices tt> the islanders of the Indian (Jcean than the reintleer to the liaplantlei' t)r ilie Saiiiojetle; and, to the htmour of these barbarians be it iiieiitioiietl, they treat their invaluable friend and companion with a e'l'ateful att'ecti(»n \vhicli mi^ht serve as an example to r.M' iiioi'e civilist'd nations. The reindt'or attains an aj^c of from twenty tt) twenty-tive \ ears, hut in its th>mosticated state it is g'onorally killed when ti'iiii sixttiten years old. Its most dan^'orous enemies are tht- wojt'. and the elulton t»i' wolverine {(rnli> hurcdlis or (irrfina^)^ |\\liirli helon<4S to the bloodthirsty marten and weasel family, hiiiil is saitl tt> be of nnconimon fiereonoss and strength. It lis ahout the size of a largo badger, between which animal iiiinl the |K)le-cat it seems to be intermediate, nearly re- 1^' nihliije the foi'mer in its general figure and aspect, aiitl liiuivciiig with the latter as tt) its dentition. No dog is piliahle of nrastoring a glutton, antl even the wolf is hanlly d'le ttt scare it from its proy. [ts feet are very short, so Hiat it ( aniitit run swiftly, but it clindjs with groat facility ^ilit'ii trees, t)r ascends oven almost perpendicular rock-walls, here it also seeks a refuge when pm'suod. ^\ lieii it perceives a lu-nl of reindeer browsijig la'ai" a v> TUH I'OLAK \VOIir" their blood, as the weasel does with fowls, and eats no more at our meal than any other carnivorous animal of its own size. Besides the attacks of its mij^htier enemies, the reindeer is subject to the pers<.'cutions of two species of fjad-fly, Avhiili torment it exceedingly. The one (C/v'.s•^^^^s• tardudi), called Hurbma by the Laplanders, deposits its o-hitinous ey*>'S upon the animal's back. The larva,*, on creeping- out, immediately bore themselves into the skin, where by their motion ami suction they cause so many small swelling's or boils, w'hicli •^•radually ^-row^ to the size of an inch or more in diameter, with an openinj^ at the top of each, through which the larv;i may be seen imbedded in a purulent Huid. Frequently the whole back of the animal is covered with these boils. which, by drainin«ji' its fluids, produce emaciation and disease. As if aware of this dang'cr, the reindeer runs wild ami furious as soon as it hears the buzzing" of the fly, and seeks ;i refu<»-e in the nearest water. The other species of in the' nostrils of the reindeer; aiul the larvre, boring them- selves into the fances iind beneath the tongue of the \)t»'\ animal, are a great source of annoyance, as is shown by it- frequent snifHing and shaking of the head. A pestilential disorder like the rinderpest Avill sometime! | sweep away Avhole lierds. Thus in a few Aveeks a rich Liiii-| lander or Samojede may be reduced to poverty, and the pronl possessor of several thousaiuls of reindeer be compelled ti seek the precarious livelihood of the northern fishernum. The elk or moose-deer {Crrvni^ alces) is another member I'tj the cervine race peculiar to the forests of the north. In 8i» j It is sliapi sluD't Weigl I'l'oin legs, o\er ( of till le^S a < 'iesai', llie ({( liJIVc Si .-■iiigle lliat b iiiid hii .V( p ];ast P: tile IIK It is I. itself 1, iiml (ilji Vsei'k a 1 ing to t tains, w 'fit tiiids, ; ■which i ;-jliannles: ^ler<.city :;|"\igliy and the Inivs piiasi'd ..'"Vered ^vi'ak to TllOH' <, we Ii TIIK KLK Oli .MOOSK-DKKH. 23 M'ilUcll inimiil Is ini- ': s ini<-'l<, -^ vtliy i.f 2 tor iii- i iiieal 3d with 0 111 alec io-lit six i(T tht'iv 'E5 0 at one --I i/,0. ;;-| indoor is ;',,i jTj Avliieli ), callf'l I'u's upon '^l lodiatcly tion and fjv Is, whic'li ¥ liamotiT. the larv.i •oqiiontly so boils. disoaso. vild au'l il sool^s a 1 its i'ii'S- imetinu > ich Liq - ho pron il pelk'd 1 1 mum. km iber ofl III siA it is far sni)orior to tho statif, but it oaniiot boast of an olopmt sliaiM', tlio head bcin-;' disproportionatoly larov, the neok short and tliicic. and its innnonso horns, whii-h .soniotinios Avriyh near lifty p(»unds, oach diiathio- almost iinmcdiatoly from the l»as(' into a broad palmated form; Avhih,> its k»n the reindeer, srek a refuse ao-ainst the attacks of the o-ad-tlios, by wander- in;^' to the coasts of the sea, or retreatino- to the bare moun- tains, where it would soon perish for the want of adequate innd, l)ut pluntj;'es up to the nose into the next river, where it finds, moreover, a species of water-grass [Fi'^fuvn Jhn'tnus) \\\\'\r]i it likes to feed upon. Though naturally mild and li,irnd(>ss, it displays a high degree of courage, ami even (fiiMcity wln.'u suddenly attacked; defending itself with great ^i-nnv, not only with ilo horns, but also by striking violently Avith its fore feet, in the use of which it is particularly d' xtious. It is generally caught in traps, as it is extremely sliv and watchful, and tinds an easy retreat in the swamp or tin' forest. The oidy time of the year when it can be easily (liiist'd is in the sjiring, when the softened snow gets ci'Mved durhig the night with a thin crust of ice Avhich is too \\i ;ik to bear the aniinars weight. Thongh not ranging so far north as the reindeer or the Ik, we thid in the Old World the red-deer [Cervus elaphvs). u TiiH I'oi.AU Would. ill Iho vicinity of Drouthcini in Norway, uud aloii^ with tlic roebuck boyond Lake Baikal in Siberia, wliile in America tlie larf'ix)^ and the Wa^uti or Canada sta<4" {('rrcuH .stniiHfnf(t-ci-i'at<), I'xtend tlieir exciu'sions beyond 55° of northern iatitnde. Tlie latter is nnich lar<4;er and of a stronfrer make than the Euroi)ean red-deer, frequently ^Towin<4' to the hei<,dit of our tallest oxen, and })oHse.ssin«4 M-reat activity as well as strength. The Hesh is little prized, but the hide, when made into leather after the Indian fashion, is said not to turn hard in dryin;^", after beinj^ wet — a quality which justly entitles it to a preference over almost every other kind of leather. One of the njost remarkable quadrupeds of the hi^li northern rej^ions is the nuisk-ox {Oflbox nii>sch((tnx), which liy some naturalists has been considered as intermediate between the sheep and the ox. It is about the heig'ht of ii deer, l)iit of much stouter proportions. The horns are very broad iit the base, almost meeting on the forehead, and curving' doAvii- wards between the eye and ears until about the level of the mouth, when they turn upw'ards. Its long thick brown or black hair luinging down below the middle of the leg, and covering on all parts of the animal a tine kind of soft ash- coloured wool, which is of the Hnest description and capal)le of forming the mc)st beantiful fabrics manufactured, enables it to remain even during the winter beyond 70° of northern latitude. In spring, it wanders over the ice as far us Melville Island, or even Smith's Soiiiid, where a number of its bones were found by Dr. Kane. In September it Avitli- draws more to the south, and si)ends the coldest months on the verge of the forest-region. Like the reindeer, it subsists chiefly on lichens and grasses. It runs nimbly, and climbs hills and rocks with great ease. Its fossil remains, or tlio.so of a very analogous species, have been discovered in Siberia : at present it is exclusively confined to the New World. In the Kocky Mountains, from the Mexican Cordillera- plateaux as far as 08° N. lat., dwells the wild sheep {OcIk moiitaud), distinguished by the almost circular bend of its large, triangular, transversely striped horns, from its relativo the Siberian argali {Ovia argali), which is supposed to be the parent of our domestic sheep, and far surpasses it in size and delieacv of flesh. Both the American and the Asiatic AKCI'K lAlNA. Sfi ipal)U' lablc's •tliovii "ill- us jer ul Kvitli- ths oil Ibsists lliuibs |tli»'fns, iiKiiiv, like th<' lynx, the wolf, tlio bear, the ^-hitton, and ctlicr nu'iuhei's of the weiisel tiilte, have their lu'ad-qnarters ill the forests, and only oceasionally roam over tlie tnndras ; but th(.> Arctic fox {Onu's Jiiiiitjtnx) abnost exehisively inhabits the treeless Wiistes that frino-c the Polar ocean, and is fonnd on idmost all the islands that lie buried in its bosom. This pretty little creature, which in winter ;L;'rows perfectly white, knows how to protect itself ay'ainst the most intense cold, eitlier bv seeking a refn«je in the clefts of rocks, or bv Iturrowiny to a considerable depth in a sandy soil. It principally preys upon lennnin^'s, stoats, polar hares, as Will iis upon all kinds of water-fowl and their ey^^s ; but, when j>in(*hed l)y hnno-er, it does not disdain the carcases of lisli. or the molluscs and crustaceans it may ch.ince to pick np on the shore. Its enemies are the fjlutton, the snowy owl. and man, who, from the equator to the poles, leaves no creature unmolested that can in any way satisfy his wants. The lenuiiin^^'s, of which there are many species, are small ntdeuts, ptculiar to the Arctic regions, both in the New and in the Old World, where they are found as far to the north as vcf^'etation extends. They live on gTass, ro(»ts, the shoots of the willow, and the dwarf birch, but chieHy on lichens. They do not gather hoards of provisions for the winter, hut live upon what they find beneath the snow. They -I'ldoni prove injurious to man, as the regions they inhabit are generally situated beyond the limits of agriculture. I'roni the voles, to Avhom they are closely allied, they are distinguished by having the foot-sole covered with stiff hairs, and by the strong crooked (daws with which their fore feet ;iie armed. The best known species is the Norwegian lem- ming {Iti'mmusnorwcfiicus), which is found on the high nioun- tains of the Dovrefjeld, and further to the north on the dry parts of the tundra, where it inhabits small burrows under slones or in the moss. Its long and thick hair is of a tawny (•< il( MU-' and prettily nuu-ked with black spots. The migrations of the lemming have been grossly exaggerated by Olaus 2U TIIK l'()l,AI{ WOIM.I). Ma|,Mius and P()nt(>[»i)i(lim, to wlunii tho iiaiiiriil liiMt(»rv nt tlu^ North owes so mniiy liil)I<'H. As tlioy bn'cd si'Vi'nil tinus ill the year, pnMliu-iii;;" live or six at a l)irtli, tlu'v of coiu'si' imilliply very last under i'avoiiriiblo cin'innHtaiiees, and aic I Ih'ii forced to leave the district which is no hni^er abh- id atl'ord them food. Jiut this takes j»lace very seldrni, for when Mr. Hrehin* visited Scandinavia, ih«.' people (»ii the I)o- vrefjehl knew nothing- about the nii^'ratioiis of the Icinniinii', and his encpiiries on the subject prov«'d e<]ually friiith'ss in Lai»laiid and in Finland. At all events it is a fortuii'ite cir- cumstance that the h'mmin^s have so many eiiemi(>s, as their ra[>id muhi[)licatiou mi<4ht else endaii<4'er the balance of existence in the northern retjfions. The inclemencies of the climiito are a chief means for kei'pin^ them in check. A "wet summer, an early cold and snowless autumn deHtr(»y them by millions, and then of course years are necessary td recruit tlu'ir numbers. With the exception of the bear ami the hed^eho^', they are pursued by all the northern carnivora. The Avolf, the fox, the d-hitton, tho marten, the ermine, devour them with avidity, and a yood lemming' season is ;i time of unusual plenty for the hund-ry Laplander's do<^^ The snowy owl, whose dense plumage enables it to be a constant resident on tho tundra, almost exclusively frequents thos( places wIkhv lemming's, its favourite food, are to bo found ; the buzzards are constantly active in their destruction; the crow feeds its yoiui;^- with lemmind-s ; and even the poor Lap, when pressed by hunger, seizes a stick, and, for want of better yame, s Thicrlebon.' lliklburgliauseii, 186.'). .MI(iUAT(»UV KIKIiS. 27 n- tlu' L'eater ;-ioiis. e thf roiin The S( I („,/.s' < ,1 inhiriifii if iiliiri'iilis), tlic liitcst visiters of the sciiMuii. TIh'si' liii'ils f,ft'ii('i'iillv liikt' tlit'ir (Icitiirtiin' in lnn;4'e into the very heart of tlif Arctic /oiu', for the tliy-ht of a j^-iKtse bein^- forty or (illy milt iiii hour, these birds may breed in the rem<»test northern ", iind in a few hours, <»n a fall of deep autumn snow, themselves by their swiftness of vvini^- to better feed- iiin- o'r(i\nnls. ( )ii(' (if the most iutorestin;^' of the Arctic birds is the snow- liiiiitiii;^" [I'lirfrojthtoti's nlralls), which may properly be called llir [tolar sin^'in;^- bird, as it breeds iu the most northern isles, such as Spit/Jnn'j^vn aud Novajii Zenilya, or on the highest iiiountiiins of the Dovrefjeld iu Seandiiiiivia, where it enlivens the fn<>'itive summer with its short but a^'reeable I II It's, sounding' doubly sweet fr(»m tlie treeless wastes in which till y tire heard. It invariably builds its nest, Avliich it lines villi I't'iithers and down, in the fissures i>f numntaiii rocks iif under lar^'o stones, and the entrance is <4'enerally so narrow lis merely to allow the parent birds to })ass. The ri'iiuirkably dense winter plumaj^'e of the snow-bunting" es})ecially qualifies il for a northern residence, and when in ciiptivity it will liillier bear the severest cold than even a moderate de<''ree "I' Wiinuth. In its broediug'-places it lives almost exclusively ell insects, particularly ynats : during the Avinter it feeds on all sorts of seeds, and then famine frequently compels it to wander to a less rigoroiis clinuite. riie Lapland bunting {Centt'ophanes hijrpoHicns), whose white iiiid black plunuige is agreeably diversified with red, is likewise an inhabitant of the higher latitudes, where it is tie(|ueutly Seen iu the barren grounds and tundras. Both n TIIK 1'OI.All WORLD. tlioso ])ir(ls are distiiiouisliod by the very lon£>' claw of their hind toe, a structure which enables thein to run about with ease upon the snow. Aniono- the raptorial birds of the Arctic regions, the sea- eaud into the air as soon as their piercing eye espies the universally dreaded tyrant, and thus escape ; while the former, blindly trusting to the element in which they are capable of finding a temporary refuge, allow him to approach, and then suddenly diving, fancy themselves in safety, while the eagle is only waiting f(tr the moment of their reappearance to repeat his attack, Twice or thrice they may possibly escape his claws by a rapid plunge, but wIumi for the fourth time they dive out of the Avater, and remain but one instant above the siu-face, that instant seals their doom. The sea-eagle is equally formidable to the denizens of the ocean, but sometimes too great a con- fidence in his strength leads to his destruction, for Kittlitz Avas informed by the inhabitants of Kamtschatka that, pouncing upon a dolphin, he is not seldom dragged down into the water by the diving cetacean in whose skin his talons remain fixed. k l"l^ i'-i u . X't'ssel liRea out, oi cnc Water by Ice. CHAPTER II [. THE ARCTIC SKAS. li.iuirii'- iccuhar to Ih AiTtii- Sea — L' -irnnunock'^ - Coll 1> •'— Ii^o-bcrys — 'J'luir Oi'iicin — Their Si 'L'ht' (ilacicTs wliicii fj:iv<' ilu'iii Da l)irtli — Tluir Beauty — Sometimes useful Auxiliaries to tlie 3Iariiier-l)ani;ers ot AiirliMrins to a liiTg — A eruniMing Iht^ — Tlie lei-liliuk — Fof>:s— Trans pare iiey (it til.' Atinospliere— riienomena of luflectiou ami Refraetiou — Ca usis wliieli ] ivvtiit the Accumulation of Polar Ice — Tides — Currents — Ice a bad Cunduetor of IKat — Wise Provisions of Nature. |rrilK heart of the first n!ivi