PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 7 



twigs, and leaves even to the finest fibre. I have recently visited 

 one of these "beds in the Valley of the Lez, near Montpellier, 

 which is not of any great antiquity. Of the 30 species of plants 

 contained in these tufas, nine have quitted the Valley of the Lez, 

 one has retired to the Cevennes, four have left the Department of 

 the Herault altogether. These losses have been compensated for by 

 fresh accessions, which now retain a predominant hold in all parts of 

 the district, none of which are represented in these tufas. Quercus 

 coccifera, a dwarf spinous-leaved oak, is now most abundant and so 

 characteristic of the arid limestone plateaux of the Department 

 that it furnishes the name garrigue, derived from garroville, its 

 Provenal name. The tufas of Provence to the east and Italy 

 equally contain no trace of the Cistus', the Genistas, the Thymes, 

 the Rosemaries, and Lavenders with which those who botanize 

 over these vast wastes are so familiar, and which form their leading 

 botanical features. 



The remarkable journey of Doctor ISTansen and his companions 

 across Greenland in August and September, 1889, deserves a 

 passing remark. Jansen and Stunstrup attempted a similar 

 journey in 1878, and after encountering many difficulties were 

 unable to penetrate further inland than 40 miles after reaching an 

 altitude of 5,000 feet. The distinguished Arctic voyager and 

 explorer, Baron Nordenskiold, was somewhat more successful in 

 1885, when he penetrated 90 miles of the interior after travelling 

 over a continual snow desert. An American, Mr. R. E. Peasy, in 

 the year following reached an altitude of 7,525 feet after a journey 

 of 100 miles direct into the interior. Doctor Nansen's expedition 

 left Iceland June 4th, 1888, intending to land near Cap Dan. 

 Being unable to get within 50 miles of the coast on account of the 

 obstruction by icebergs, he took to his two boats, one of which was 

 disabled ; when repaired after much delay and danger the 

 journey was resumed, but strong currents carried him rapidly 

 southward along the coast ; after several fruitless attempts to land 

 he succeeded in reaching Anoritok, July 29th, 61 30' N. lat., 240 

 miles farther south than he intended, and did not reach Umiavik 



