252 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1881. 



country is uninhabitable, destitute of timber, and without soil to sup- 

 port vegetation, the earth being strongly impregnated with salt. After 

 two years of careful observation. Lieutenant Eay gives his opinion de- 

 cidedly against the probable existence of an open polar sea, therein dif- 

 fering from Lieutenant Greely. 



For more than a year an expedition, under command of Lieutenants 

 Holm and Garde, of the Danish navy, has been engaged in exploring 

 the east and southeast coasts of Greenland. Winter quarters for 

 1883-'84 were occupied at j^anortalik, 50 miles east of Cape Farewell. 

 A journey lasting two and a half months was performed during the 

 summer, but no account of the results of their explorations has yet 

 been published. During the winter of 1884-'85 one half the expedition 

 were to winter in a suitable place on the east coast, the other half re- 

 turning to Nanortalik. In consequence of frequent and violent changes 

 of temperature, sledge journeys cannot be performed in this part of 

 Greenland, the only means of conveyance being the boat. The pro- 

 gramme is to explore the east coast by boats as far north as possible, 

 and to return from Greenland in the autumn of 1885. 



In June, 1884, Lieutenant Jensen, of the Danish navy, accompanied 

 by Herr Lorenzen, geologist, and Herr Riis-Carstensen, artist, left Den- 

 mark for Holsteinborg, on the west coast of Greenland, to explore the 

 coast southward from Holsteinborg to Sukkertoppen, a region never 

 before examined by Europeans. The results of their work have not yet 

 been published. From May to September, 1884, the Danish gunboat 

 Fylla, Captain Normann, was engaged in examiiriug the west coast of 

 Greenland as far as 70° north latitude. This work included a careful 

 exploration of theinland glaciers of Greenland, as well as dredging, sound- 

 ing, and trawling along the coast and in Davis Strait, Baffin's Bay, and 

 Disco Bay. Valuable collections were carried home to Denmark, in- 

 cluding a block of ironstone weighing about 1,800 pounds. 



The Russian expedition to the delta of the Lena River, commanded by 

 Lieut. N. D. Jurgens, has returned, having lost no members and having 

 had no serious case of illness. Scurvy made its appearance during the 

 first winter of their stay, but was quickly suppressed. The lowest tem- 

 perature experienced was— 50° centigrade, with very frequent storms. 

 The, sun was hardly seen during the summer, and the highest tempera- 

 ture, 12° C, was only once reached. Many changes in the maps of this 

 region will result from the surveys of this party. Sagastyr, where the 

 observations were made, was supposed to be the northern point of the 

 delta, but the most northerly land was found to be Dunas Island, in 74° 

 north latitude. The tidal changes are very small and are largely influ- 

 enced by the winds. Dr. Bunge, the naturalist of the party, has spent 

 the winter of 1884-'85 in Irkutsk, and in the spring will visit and ex- 

 plore (he basin of the Jana, in Northeastern Siberia. In 1886 he proposes 

 to visit the New Siberia Islands. 



