430 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxxi. 



63^, and much dwarfed north of the Arctic Circle. Considerable open 

 countr}^ is found on the upper Peace River, in western Athabaska, 

 especiall}' in the region known as the Grand Prairie. 



In eastern and northern Mackenzie is found that vast area of open 

 tundra commonly known as the " Barren Lands " or "Barren Grounds." 

 This tundra region, while it does not lie entirely north of the Arctic 

 Circle, is essentiall}' Arctic in a zoogeographic sense. During the 

 short summer season, extending from June to August, the Barren 

 Grounds are covered with a profusion of wild flowers, and a luunlier 

 of species of Arctic butterflies lend their beauty to a landscape which 

 for eight or nine months of the year is a frozen waste. 



While traveling along the Arctic coast west of Bathurst Inlet in 

 1902, Mr..Hanbury first met with l)utterflies near Lewes Island on 

 June 26, and remarks that numl)ers were to be seen June 27 on the 

 southwest point of Chapman Island." Some idea may be gained of 

 the rapid progress and shortness of the summer season in this latitude 

 (67'^ N.) from Mr. Hanbury's obser'S'ations. Regarding the conditions 

 of vegetation on Julv 12, near Point Epworth, we have the following: 

 " Vegetation was very luxuriant, and the ground showed a profusion 

 of blossom. The miniature rhododendron, with its mass of red blos- 

 som, the white blossom of our friend the /-^'??<-z!/, the heather * * * 

 and a white anemone were the most conspicuous."* 



Writing in his journal July 15, when encamped a short distance 

 west of Point Epworth (111- W., 07^ 10' N.), Mr, Hanl)ury says: 

 "Darrell collected butterflies for me. It did not appear as if I should 

 be able to add largely to either collection [plants and insects], for both 

 butterflies and flowers seemed to be nearly over. A blue lupin 

 {Liiplinis noothatensis), which is very connnon in the Northland, was 

 still in flower.""^ 



Tlie sunnner was rapidl}' drawing to a close when Hanbury reached 

 the mouth of Dismal Creek, or Kendall River, at its junc-tion with 

 the Coppermine. He says: "Land on either side of the river was 

 low, and supported a stunted growth of s]irucc trees. * * * I col- 

 lected a few butterflies, but they were now hardly worth taking. 

 The}' had been nmch knocked about l)y wind and weather, and a large 

 uum))er of them could scarceh' fly at all."'' 



The Athabaska-Mackenzie region is in most portions still a virgin 

 wilderness, and the extreme difficult}' of travel will for many years 

 prevent a thorough exploration. Futui'o work in the mountainous 

 region west of the Mackenzie River will unquestionably add a number 

 of mountain species of butterflies; while additional species may be 



« Sport and Travel in the Northland of Canada, 1904, pp. ]72-17;5. 

 ''Idem, p. 190. 'Idem, p. 192. ''Idem, p. 209. 



