3 08 Recent Literature. fue 
The voyages here described were made in 1895 and 1897. In 1895 con- 
siderable time (June 20-27) was spent on the Murman coast of Russian 
Lapland, and (July 5-15) on Kolguer Island; Novaya Zemlya was 
reached July 17, and ten days later the party started on their homeward 
trip, reaching Bergen, Norway, August 9. The expedition largely failed 
of its original purpose, owing to the condition of the ice and the unsuit- 
ableness of the vessel. The purpose of the second expedition was to ex- 
plore the tundra-land between the Petchora River and the Ural Mountains. 
Owing to unfavorable weather and ice conditions this country was never 
reached, and the ‘“‘ Great Tundra, .... lying between the Petchora and 
Karataikha rivers, yet remains an unknown land, as far as its bird-life 
during the summer season is concerned.” The voyage occupied eleven 
weeks, and the time was occupied in ‘‘ interesting work on Waigatch, 
Dolgoi Island, and Novaya Zemlya.” 
The narrative of the two voyages occupies pp. 1-168, and is followed by 
appendixes on the botany and geology, by Colonel Feilden, of the regions 
visited, and on the ornithology by Mr. Pearson. Thus ‘ Appendix G, 
Ornithology,’ contains a summary of the observations on the birds, giv- 
ing briefly the principal facts, while reference to the index will give a 
clue to the fuller details. The list altogether numbers 67 species, while 
tabular lists indicate the species met with at the different points visited ; 
namely, Waigatch, with 38 species; South Island of Novaya Zemlya, 44 
species; North Island of Novaya Zemlya, 32 species; Dolgor Island, 20 
species, and Habarova, 25 species. 
Of the sixteen species of passerine birds met with, the greater part were 
seen only in Russian Lapland, the birds found at the other points being 
the usual Arctic shore birds and water fowl, with a few species of rapto- 
rial birds. The colony of Briinnich’s Murres found at Nameless Bay, 
Novaya Zemlya, was not only the largest met with, but ‘‘ranks as one of 
the most important in the Arctic regions.” It is illustrated in plates 73 
and 74 and described at length on pages 162 and 163. The higher parts 
of the same cliffs were occupied also by the Glaucous Gull in great num- 
bers, — ‘‘ handsome, well-fed birds, who looked as if they had not a care 
in life beyond the selection of the youngsters [young Murres] from the 
ledges below.” 
The book is well gotten up, and profusely illustrated with excellent 
halftone plates, showing the scenic, geological, and floral features of the 
coasts and islands visited, with many pictures of Lapps and Samoyedes, 
etc., as well as the many views illustrating bird life. —J. A. A. 
Collett and Nansen’s Birds of the Norwegian North Polar Expedition.! 
+The Norwegian North Polar Expedition, 1893-1896. Scientific Results. 
Edited by Fridtjof Nansen, IV. An Account of the Birds. By Robert Collett 
