270 NATURAL SCIENCE. April, 



meditations on eternity and the vanity of our mortal aims to the con- 

 sideration of a toothsome bill of fare. One can skip the rhapsodies, 

 but they have their place as throwing light on the psychology of the 

 Arctic explorer ; we note that they recur less often after the comfort 

 of the " Fram " has been left. However, we do not propose to 

 review the book from the journalist's standpoint, and shall merely 

 direct attention to a few details of scientific interest. 



Meteorological observations, under the direction of Lieut. Scott- 

 Hansen, " were taken every four hours day and night ; indeed, for a 

 considerable part of the time, every two hours." " Hansen had also 

 at stated periods to take observations to determine the magnetic 

 constant." The salinity and temperature of the water at different 

 depths were also observed ; the amount of electricity in the air ascer- 

 tained ; marine currents were investigated : all this fell to the lot of 

 Nansen. The aurora was regularly observed, first by Nansen, then 

 by Dr. Blessing. Sounding and dredging were constant, and gave 

 occupation to all hands. 



Temperature-observations showed that under the cold surface 

 was more saline and warmer water with a temperature sometimes as 

 high as 1° C. Ascribing this to the diving of the Gulf Stream, 

 Nansen speaks of the fact as " surprising " and as modifying theories 

 hitherto entertained. As a matter of fact it does nothing more than 

 confirm the observations of Scoresby, Markham, and Maury, and the 

 views of Lyell, CroU, and other people not unknown. 



In connection with the surface layer of fresh water, some curious 

 statements are made on pp. 174, 177 of vol. i. Off Taimur Id. " we 

 could hardly get on at all for the dead-water, and we swept the whole 

 sea along with us. . . . Where a surface layer of fresh water rests 

 upon the salt water of the sea . . . this fresh water is carried along 

 with the ship, gliding on the heavier sea beneath. While we had 

 drinking water on the surface the water we got from the bottom cock 

 of the engine-room was too salt to be used for the boiler. Dead- 

 water manifests itself in the form of larger or smaller ripples or 

 waves stretching across the wake, the one behind the other, arising 

 sometimes as far forward as almost amidships." This appears to 

 have taken away all the momentum of the vessel. But at last "some 

 thin ice scraped the dead water off us. The change was noticeable 

 at once. As the Fmm cut into the ice crust she gave a sort of spring 

 forward, and, after this, went on at her ordinary speed." To our 

 landlubber mind this sounds like some old i?m;ora-superstition, and 

 sadly demands explanation. 



Basing his whole plan on the drift of the ice, it is natural that 

 Nansen should have devoted much attention to this phenomenon. 

 The successful issue of the voyage is itself a proof of the reality of the 

 drift, but there were also material evidences in the shape of logs of 

 Siberian larch, observed by Nansen on his sledge expedition, and by 

 Sverdrup on the "Fram" (vol. ii., pp. 153, 580). Further, river-ice 

 with clay and gravel was seen in lat. 85'^ N and about 90° E. This 

 drift of the ice is due to the prevailing winds, but there is also " a slow 

 current in the water under the ice, travelling in the same direction." 

 Thus not only Nansen's previous conclusions, but also the views of 

 A. E. Nordenskiold as to the currents in the Kara Sea, are confirmed, 

 while the greater thickness of the ice north of the Atlantic over that 

 north of Siberia receives a simple explanation. 



There are some valuable observations on the formation of polar 

 ice (vol. i., p. 404). Ice formed in autumn continues to increase up 

 till next midsummer, but more slowly with increase of thickness. 



