238 NATURAL SCIENCE. October. 



munificent generosity, and the persevering and courageous efforts of 

 Mr. Jackson and his colleagues. 



The easiness of access of the western coast of Spitzbergen has 

 rendered that island one of the best frequented of Arctic lands. An old 

 prophecy of Reclus' has this year been fulfilled by the erection of a 

 tourist hotel on the shores of Ice Fjord. Five excursions will be 

 made there every summer, so that in future this will be a convenient 

 base for explorations. Up to the present year very little work had 

 been done in the interior. Baron Nordenskiold and Palander traversed 

 the inland ice of North East Land in June, 1873 ; the late Gustaf 

 Nordenskiold marched from Horn Sound northward to Bel Sound in 

 1892, and in the same year Mr. C. Rabot made a short excursion 

 inland from the extreme head of Ice Fjord. Otherwise, explorations 

 have been limited to a day's march from the coast. Sir Martin 

 Conway, therefore, organised an expedition in order to cross Spitz- 

 bergen and work out the topography, geology, and natural history of a 

 zone across it. The expedition landed in Advent Bay on June 19, 

 and spent two months in exploration. During this time Conway 

 crossed to the east coast at Agardh Bay, making a careful map of the 

 route, while his companions, Mr. E. J. Garwood and the writer, 

 studied its geology and natural history. Meanwhile, Mr. Trevor- 

 Battye and Mr. H. E. Conway worked in Ice Fjord and Dickson Bay. 

 Subsequently the whole expedition, in a small iron steamer, the 

 ** Expres," visited the Seven Islands, and went down Hinlopen Strait 

 to the broad Olga Strait. It was hoped thence to work through Hell 

 Sound, or Walter Thymen Strait, into Stor Fjord. If that could have 

 been done Spitzbergen could have been circumnavigated ; but the two 

 straits were choked with fast ice, and the steamer was driven east- 

 ward, almost to Prince Charles' Islands. The ice here, also, was 

 impenetrable, and the steamer had to return through Hinlopen Strait, 

 and thence back to Advent Bay by the west coast. Subsequently, 

 Mr. Trevor-Battye and Mr. Garwood ascended Hornsund Tind, the 

 highest peak in Spitzbergen, and returned to Norway in the " Expres." 

 The Conway Expedition, though much shorter than any of the 

 others, covered a good deal of ground, and has returned with much 

 fresh information and large collections from the hitherto unknown 

 interior of one of the most instructive of Arctic islands. While Sir 

 Martin Conway was mapping the interior of Spitzbergen, Baron de 

 Geer and Lieutenant Knorring were engaged in a detailed trigono- 

 metrical survey of Ice Fjord, and a study of the snouts of the glaciers 

 that flow into it. 



Considerable attention was attracted to Spitzbergen this year, as 

 it was made the scene of a very novel effort in Arctic exploration. 

 Unfortunately, some delays in preparation and the unfavourable 

 conditions of weather have kept back Andree's contributions to Arctic 

 results till next year. His balloon was not ready till late in July ; and 

 to have st.\rted after the end of that month would have greatly increased 



