1888-89.] the Coasts of Lapland and Siberia. 447 



are in Lapland more than twice as many species of I'liane- 

 rogamae as there are in Arctic Siberia. Yet although this is 

 the case, and although the flora of Lapland is richer in 

 species than is that of any other region within the Arctic 

 circle, the general appearance of the country is much more 

 bleak and barren than is that of the land about the Yugor 

 Straits. Once you land in the north of Siberia, the poverty 

 of species and the scantiness of the vegetation is apparent, 

 especially so to one who has observed the vegetation of 

 Lapland along the same parallels of latitude. There are 

 not, however, the rocky crags and bare mountain tops 

 as in Lapland, so that, surprised because of the apparently 

 continuous covering of turf as seen from the ship's deck, 

 Wiggins actually compares the appearance of Waigatz Island 

 to that of the Isle of Wight. Seebohm speaks of the rich- 

 ness and beauty of the "tundra" flora. Dr Warming, 

 quoting from Kjellman, in his resume of Gr0nlands Vegeta- 

 tion, records the phrase les champs des fieurs, descriptive of 

 the flora in North Siberia, but, for the regions bordering on 

 the north coast, all such descriptions are fallacious. They 

 may be apphcable to regions warmer by 10° C, bordering 

 on the Yenisei, to which doubtless Kjellman and Seebohm 

 refer ; they are not applicable to the monotonous expanses 

 of sedge and grass which only in more favourable places 

 are associated with gayer plants, e.g., Saxifraga, Fedimdaris, 

 and Polemonium. 



If we consider with a little more detail the physical 

 features of the two countries, we shall be able at once to 

 make a fairer comparison as to the vegetation in each, and 

 we shall find that the comparative wealth or poverty of 

 species is thus reconcilable with the known facts as to 

 the physical characters and the climate. Although the 

 rocky character of Lapland gives it a more barren and 

 desolate aspect, yet very slight observation suffices to 

 show its superiority to northern Siberia in the number 

 and variety of the commonest plants, just as it is found 

 to have a richer flora when all its native species are 

 considered. 



We may describe as typical of Lapland the nature of the 

 country about K0lle, the first place on the mainland off 

 which we anchored. There were recognisable certain well- 



TRANS. But. SOC. VOL. XVII. 2 H 



