350 PROF. T. M. FETES ON THE LICHENS 



yellow, and black and grey lichens which covered small stones and 

 pebbles. At an elevation of 1200 feet the larger lichens were 

 very abundant. The top of the ' Dean ' was conspicuously clad 

 with two species — the broad flat lichen, abundantly represented in 

 my collection*, and a very delicate black plant that looks like a 

 network of fine dark hairs f. This growth of lichens (these two 

 species) increased at an altitude of 1400 feet. This is the highest 

 elevation I reached when the snow had disappeared sufficiently 

 to enable nie to give any idea of the general lichen growth" J. 



From this circumstance, and from the above-mentioned deve- 

 lopment of most species, we need not hesitate to conclude that 

 lichenscan thrive much further to the north than man has hitherto 

 succeeded in advancing. I am convinced that, without the least 

 credit being given to an open polar sea (existing, no doubt, only 

 in fancy), a lichen vegetation may exist at the very pole if there 

 is land or only rocks free from snow or ice for only a short period 

 of the year. 



The lichens that have been collected by the Euglish Polar Ex- 

 pedition are mostly of such species as are already known from 

 the arctic regions. However, it is not without a little surprise 

 that I have also found among them some species which were known 

 before only from much more southern regions. Added to which 

 I have reason to suppose that some of the forms are entirely new, 

 and have not hitherto been found. They are described below. 



It is well known that, having regard to their different habits of 

 living, lichens are distinguished as growing on stone, wood, moss, 

 and earth. To speak of real wood-lichens in arctic regions 

 is impossible, of course, as no trees are to be found there. 

 Only some smaller fragments of wood of Salices§ are in the 



* Gyrophora discolor, Th. Fr. 



t Parmelia lanata (L.). Wallr. 



\ The following lichens (most of them in a bad condition) have been found 

 on stones and earth from an altitude of 1200 feet on Cape Union : — Cetraria 

 nivalis, Tarmclia lanata, Physcia pitlveritlenta /3. muscigcna, Gyrophora discolor, 

 Caloplaca elcgans 3. tenuis, C. jungermannice, Rinodina turfacea, B. exigua p. 

 confragosa, Lecanora varia fi.polytrapa, L. Hageni, L. gibbosa, Blastema atrocya- 

 nescens, Sporastatia testudinea, Lccidca leucophcea /3. griseoatra, L. &nea, L. pau- 

 per cula, L. Dicksonii, Buellia parascma /3. muscorum, Rhizocarpo-n chionophiluni, 

 and 7?. germinatum, as well as Endococcus perpusillus and Volycoccum Spora- 

 statia. In East Greenland Payer found a Gyrophora (probably G. discolor) at 

 an altitude of 7000 feet above the level of the sea. 



As the giant among these may be considered a piece of dead stem withou 

 bark, of Salix arctica, labelled " From l Alert's ' winter-quarters, 82° 27'. * "is 

 is the Quest piece uf indigenous timber that I have vet met with in Gnu tie 





