A GREENLAND TULIP-TREE 91 



two natives on board assured us that bad weather 

 was imminent and very reluctantly we left with 

 our work half done. Shortage of petrol rendered 

 our return impossible. In the face of a cliff rather 

 more than 100 ft. above sea-level, there is a 

 dark band of shale (an old mud rich in the 

 products of decay of Cretaceous plants), which 

 contains impressions of the large fronds of a Cycad, 

 many twigs of Conifers allied to species that are 

 now confined to much warmer climates, and a 

 considerable variety of broad-leaved trees. One 

 of the most interesting of the broad-leaved forms 

 was identified several years ago as a species of 

 Uriodcndron t a genus now represented by the 

 Tulip-tree, a native of North America and China, 

 which is often seen in cultivation in English gar- 

 dens. In addition to the bed containing leaves of a 

 Tulip-tree there are several other exposures of rocks 

 at Atanikerdluk from which many specimens of 

 Cretaceous and Tertiary plants have been obtained, 

 but our unexpectedly sudden departure made it im- 

 possible for us to secure a representative collection. 

 At some localities the number and quality of the 

 specimens of fossil plants collected exceeded 

 expectation, while at others the results were 

 disappointing. At Atanikerdluk, owing to circum- 

 stances beyond our control, one felt that the best 

 material was being left in the rocks: 



The worst we stored with utter toil 1 , 

 The best we left behind ! 



1 It is only fair to add that my companion bore most of the 

 toil of packing, and with good results. 



