77 



forms 



lies between Lat. 60° and 60° 30' N. A year later Sir William 

 paid a brief visit to Anse Sablon, on the south coast of Labrador, 

 and was then able to make a second small collection. 



During these visits the Governor's attention was directed more 

 particularly to an examination of the Moss and Lichen vegetation 

 of Labrador, with reference especially to the possibility of 

 introducing the reindeer to Labrador and of naturalising that 

 animal there, the first step being to ascertain whether food 

 suitable for its sustenance is to be found naturally and in adequate 

 quantity in the country. 



^ In furtherance of this design Sir William enlisted the co-opera- 

 tion of Bishop Martin, of the Moravian Mission, who obtained for 

 him a collection of Mosses and Lichens made in the vicinity of 

 Nain, and of Mr. Hettasch, of the same mission, who collected on 

 his behalf in the neighbourhood of Hopedale. 



The various collections were from time to time forwarded to 

 Kew, where the species have been determined by members 

 of the herbarium staff. The collection as a whole possesses 

 considerable general interest, and a consolidated list of the 

 determinations is given below. Having regard to the fact that 

 the primary economic object of the formation of the collection 

 has been to determine whether Labrador can offer a sufficiency of 

 aliment for the reindeer, it has been indicated, in all instances 

 where this is the case, whether the species dealt with occurs also 

 in Lapland and Northern Scandinavia where the reindeer is at 

 home. 



In this connection the interest in the collection naturally 

 chiefly centres in the Lichens enumerated in the list. These 

 have throughout the enquiry received Sir William MacGregor's 

 closest attention, and as the collections have been made in the 

 Chidley Peninsula in the extreme north of the country, at Anse 

 Sablon in the most southern tract, and in the vicinity of two 

 distinct intermediate stations, they may with safety be taken as 

 fairly representative of the Lichen flora of Labrador. Owing to 

 the extreme care exercised in drying and packing these Lichens, 

 the species, which consist chiefly of the larger foliose and fruticose 

 species, arrived in excellent condition and in most instances 

 admitted of positive determination. The following general note 

 on this part of the collection has been made by Mr. A. D. Cotton, 

 to whom the examination of the Lichens was entrusted. 



"A striking feature of the Labrador Lichens is their similarity 

 44 to those of northern Europe. Platysma nivalc, Cetrarta 

 44 islandica, Bryopogon jubatum and species of Stereocaulon go 

 44 abundant in Norway and Sweden, flourish equally well in 

 "Labrador ; whilst, just as in Lapland, Cladonia raw/ifenna, the 

 " 4 Reindeer Moss,' covers vast areas. Nephroma archcum, one of 

 "the most handsome of foliose Lichens, is well represented both 

 4k from the northern and southern localities ; in Europe it is rare 

 44 except in the extreme north, w^here in common with many 

 44 boreal species it extends completely round the arctic circle. 

 44 Some tufts labelled < a mixture as found everywhere on the hills 

 44 in dry places » show the character of the Lichen vegetation in 



