The Spring and Summer of 1894. 445 



over a fog came on, so that we had to return after 

 havino- o-one a o-ood distance." 



o o o 



The world of organisms I above alluded to was the 

 subject of special research through the short summer, 

 and in many respects was quite remarkable. When the 

 sun's rays had gained power on the surface of the ice, 

 and melted the snow, so that pools were formed, there 

 was soon to be seen at the bottom of these pools small 

 yellowish-brown spots, so small that at first one hardly 

 noticed them. Day by day they increased in size, and 

 absorbing, like all dark substances, the heat of the sun's 

 rays, they gradually melted the underlying ice and 

 formed round cavities, often several inches deep. These 

 brown spots were the above mentioned algae and diatoms. 

 They developed speedily in the summer light, and would 

 fill the bottoms of the cavities with a thick layer. But 

 there were not plants only, the water also teemed with 

 swarms of animalcules, mostly infusoria and flagellata, 

 which subsisted on the plants. I actually found bacteria 

 even these regions are not free from them ! 



But I could not always remain chained by the micro- 

 scope. Sometimes when the fine weather tempted me 

 irresistibly, I had to go out and bake myself in the sun, 

 and imagine myself in Norway. 



" Saturday, August 4th. Lovely weather yesterday 

 and to-day. Light, fleecy clouds sailing high aloft 

 through the sparkling, azure sky filling one's soul with 

 longings to soar as high and as free as they. I have just 



