CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



TIIK ARCTIC LANDS. 



The barren Grounds or 'I'undri. — AlmiKlance of animal Life on tiie Tuiidri in Summer. — Their Silence 

 and Desolation in Winter. — I'rotection afforded to Vegetation liy tlie Snow. — Klower-j^rowtii in 

 the hit^hest Latitudes. — Ciiaracter of Tundra Ve{;etation. — Southern Boundary-line of tiie barien 

 Grounds. — Their Extent. — Tiie forest Zone. — Arctic Trees. — Slowness of their Growth. — Monotony 

 of the Northern Forests. — Mosquitoes. — Tlie various Causes which determine the Severity of an 

 Arctic Climate. — Insular and Continental Position. — Currents. — Winds. — Extremes of Cold observed 

 by Sir E. Belcher and Dr. Kane.— How is Man able to support the Rij^ors of an Arctic Winter.' — 

 Proofs of a milder Clim ite iiaviny once reigned in tha Arctic Regions. — Its Cause according to 

 Dr. Oswald Hesr. — Peculiar Beauties of the Arctic Regions. — Sunset. — Long lunar Nights. — The 

 Aurora Page 17 



CHAPTER n, 



ARCTIC LAND QUADRUI'ICDS AND BIRDS. 



The Reindeer. — Structure of its Foot. — Clattering Noise when walking. — Antlers. — Extraordinary 

 olfactory Powers. — The Icelandic JIo-<s. — Present and Former R;inge of tlie Reindeer. — Its invalu- 

 able Qualities as an Arctic domestic .\niuial. — Revolts against Oppression. — Enemies of the Rein- 

 deer.— Tha Wolf.— The Glutton or Wolverine.— Gad-flies.— The Elk or Moose-deer.— The Musk- 

 ox. — Tlie Wild Sheep of the Rocky JNIountains. — Tlie Siberian Argali. — The Arctic Fox. — Its Bur- 

 rows. — Tlie Lemmings. — Tiieir Migrations and Enemies. — .Vrctic Anatid;e. — The Snou-bunting. — 

 The Lapland Bunting. — The Sea-eagle. — Drowned by a Dolphin S4 



CHAPTER HI. 



r II E ARCTIC SEAS. 



Dangers peculiar to the Arctic Sea. — Ice-fields. — Hummocks. — Collision of Ice-fields. — Icebergs. — Their 

 Origin. — Tlieir Size. — The Glaciers which give them Birth. — Thtir Beauty. — .Sometimes useful 

 Auxiliaries to the Mariner. — Dangers of anchoring to a Berg. — X crumlding Berg. — The Ice-blink. 

 — Fogs. — Transparency of the Atmosphere. — Phenomena of Reflection and RcfractioiL — Causes 

 which prevent the Accumulation of Polar Ice. — Tides. — Currents. — Ice a bad Conductor of Heat. — 

 Wise Provisions of Nature 4b 



CHAPTER IV. 



ARCTIC M.VRINE ANI:\I.VL9. 



I'opulouness of the .\rc'ic Seas. — The Greenland AVhale. — The Fin Whales. — The Narwhal. — 

 The Beluga, or White Dolphin. — The Black Dolphin. — His wholesale JIassacre o.i the Faeroe I.sl- 

 ands. — The Ore, or Grampus. — The S^als. — The Walrus. — Its acute Smell. — History of a young 

 Walrus. — Parental Affection. — The Polar Bear, — Ilis Sagacity. — Hibernation of the She-bear. — 

 Sea-birds ,. 59 



CHAPTER V. 



ICELAND, 



Volcanic Origin of the Island. — The Klofa Jiikul. — Lava-streams. — The Burning Mountains of Krisu- 

 vik.— The JIud-caldrons of Reykjahlid.— The Tungo-hver at R-ykholt.— The Great Geysir.— Th? 



