PEEPARATIONS FOR WINTERING. 343 



Hamkes Bay to the coast. Seldom did we Bee even the 

 smallest streak of water ; and if this did happen, it was 

 soon again covered with ice and snow. Moreover, that 

 this pack-ice was no firm connected mass we convinced 

 ourselves ; and, more than that, we saw distinctly that 

 it slowly but steadily drifted southward. In stormy 

 weather (from the north) this drift was greatly increased, 

 and the few fields and flakes were more separated from 

 one another. 



As the winter drew on, and the sun described a smaller 

 and smaller circle each day as the cold increased, and 

 snow as well as ice covered everything, we were begin- 

 ning our really winter life, the commencement of which 

 we set at the 6th of November, the day the sun disap- 

 peared. On some excursions in the neighbourhood of Ger- 

 maniaberg, Hasenberg, Hansa Bay, and Walrus Island, 

 the ground being free from snow afforded us continual 

 opportunities for botanical research, which were not with- 

 out result. 



On a clear sunny day, for instance, the surface of the 

 earth got warm, so that by noon, at two inches deep, it 

 was 37° to 39° Fahr. ; but the night frosts were so sharp, 

 and the temperature of the air so low, that by the middle 

 of September the plants had already run their yearly 

 course, and were prepared for a nine months' winter 

 rest. Only two there were that difi'ered from the rest 

 by retaining their green leaves to deck the earth, boldly 

 facing the cold winter day, and even bearing well-pre- 

 served blossom; these were the mouse-ear chickweed 

 {Gerashim alpinum, L.) and the spoon-wort {Gochlearia 

 fenestrcda, R. Br.). The first-mentioned resembles our 

 well-known pimpernel, which in the autumn distributes 



