1895-96.] THE SEASONS, Hudson's strait. 105' 



huniiiiing by as he basks in the sunshine, and the birds are seen teaching 

 their young, this is not summer? And when the leaves are changing 

 colour, the seeds from their pods are falling, and the birds are hurryjng 

 southward, surely this must be autumn? These then and many other 

 scenes indicative of the seasons were noted, and we shall now endeax'our 

 to describe them under Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. 



Spring. — Probably the first sign of approaching spring is the change 

 that takes place in the colour of the many coloured lichens which cover 

 the rocks, and although the temperature is below zero every day, this is 

 distinctly seen in March, the green coloured species becoming much 

 brighter under the quickening influence of the sun. This, however, is a 

 long wa}' from spring, but it is hailed with joy by the Eskimo, as they 

 also hailed the first snowbiid on April 1st, when the average temperature 

 was still below zero ; and later still, on May 3rd, the full-grown cater- 

 pillars seen crawling upon the rocks when the temperature was ten 

 degrees below freezing. These larva; were evidently quite accustomed 

 to frost, and although becoming stiff and hard when frozen, they were 

 soon quite lively when allowed to thaw. A few specimens were kept in 

 hopes they would in time change to the moth or butterfly state, but 

 every one of them was infested with a parasite, and instead of their pupa; 

 bringing forth butterflies they were found to be only aids to the meta- 

 morphosis of a common fly, three or four of which, looking somewhat 

 ashamed, escaping from each carcass and fl)-ing away. 



From May ist to 15th the temperature, though occasionally rising 

 above the freezing point, was still below the average, and excepting the 

 willow, which creeps for protection under the moss, throwing shoots out 

 only a few inches above, on which the buds were now much swollen,. 

 there was little sign of life. On May 13th, the temperature being about 

 38°, a number of flies were seen ; this, however, was followed by some 

 cold days, and it was not until May 20th that any distinct sign of spring 

 was noticed. At about this date there \\as a marked rise in temperature 

 and immediately ever}-thing sprang into life, no less than thirteen 

 different species of plants showing distinct leaf-buds five or six days, 

 later, including Anteimaria alpina, Leduui palustrc, Diapenzia Lapponica 

 and others. These of couise are of the more hardy plants and were not 

 much affected by frost or the snow which continued to fall in 1886 up to 

 June 17th. On May 29th of the same year the depth of snow on the 

 gnnuid was estimated at seven inches, and although often added to it 

 was quickly melted, and this estimate included many drifts twenty feet 

 deep or more, while over large le\el areas exposed to the sun there was 

 little or no snow. Simultaneously with this sudden stait in plant life a 



