1876 ARCTIC VEGETATION. 241 



Cape Eawson ; only one fit occurred during the six 

 miles' journey over rough ground : this we consider a 

 satisfactory result. The road round the Cape is re- 

 ported to have improved, the long slopes of snow at 

 the base of the cliffs being less abrupt than they were 

 during the autumn. To-day the journey was extended 

 to ten miles, the time occupied being about three hours. 

 Two dogs had fits ; the temperature during the time 

 they were exercising was minus 55°. Each of these 

 animals is now receiving two pounds of preserved meat 

 daily. 



1 At noon when the sun was only five degrees below 

 the horizon there were no stars visible and the blue 

 tints in the ice were very decided. 



6 19th. — After three days' hunting in the twilight 

 Dr. Moss has shot a hare ; it is in excellent condition, 

 and has been feeding on the leaves of the purple saxi- 

 frage, willow and lichens. It is extraordinary how these 

 animals find sufficient food with which to support life 

 during the dark season, or how the buds of the plants 

 can withstand such a low temperature ; even when 

 protected by the snow, they must endure and survive 

 a normal temperature slightly below zero. The track 

 of an ermine has been traced some distance, but no hole 

 or place of abode was discovered. The lemmings are 

 evidently feeding under the snow, for the few tracks 

 they leave on the surface do not point towards the 

 patches of vegetation left uncovered. 



' Yesterday when obtaining a comparison of all the 



spirit thermometers, at a mean temperature of minus 



56°, the standard was only o, 2 different from the mean 



of ten instruments, only two of which varied more than 



vol. I. ft 



