104 Prof. Jameson mi the Geological Condition of the 



tion of large masses of ice. In the sea south from Spitzbergen, 

 light boats would be useless ; for it being strewed with the wreck 

 of fields, which, from its various dispositions, acquires the name 

 of 'packs ^ Ur earns ^ or jloes^ the process of boring is requisite, 

 which can be accomplished only with heavy vessels. But, in 

 high eastern latitudes, such a process may be seldom required ; 

 and so far as these little vessels can proceed, they may traverse 

 with tolerable freedom, rendering them the fittest means of 

 seeking the highest northern latitude, or the greatest eastern 

 longitude. 



General Observations on the former and present Geological 

 Condition of the Countries discovered by Captains Parry 

 and Ross. By Professor Jameson *, 



X HE observations made during the four Arctic Expeditions, 

 viz. that under Captain Ross, and the three under Captain 

 Parry, afford the following general facts and inferences : 



1 . That the regions explored abound in primitive and tran- 

 sition rocks ; that, although the secondary rocks occupy con- 

 siderable tracts, still their extent is more limited than that of 

 the older formations ; that the alluvial deposites are not exten- 

 sive ; that true or modern volcanic rocks were nowhere met 

 with ; and that the only traces of the tertiary strata were found 

 in the sandstones and clays connected with the secondary traps 

 of Baffin's Bay. 



2. That the primitive and transition islands were, in all pro- 

 bability, at one time connected together, and formed a continu- 

 ous mass with the continental parts of America ; and that, in 

 the plains and hollows of this land were deposited the secondary 

 limestones, sandstones, gypsum, and coal, and upon these again 

 the tertiary rocks. 



3. That, after the deposition of these secondary and tertiary 

 rocks, the land appears to have been broken up, and reduced 

 either suddenly or by degrees, or partly by sudden and violent 

 action, and partly by the long continued agency of the atmo- 



• From Parry's Third Voyage. 



