THE PROBLEM OF PERMANENT ARCTIC LIFE 2 2 1 



spite of conditions which seem to make it impossible. 

 The explanation is that the absence of the sunlight, 

 which is absolutely necessary for the nutrition of 

 plants elsewhere, does not prevent their growth in 

 the night of the Arctic winter. The lemmings which 

 were seen by Colonel Feilden were found to have 

 been feeding on a saxifrage common in the district, 

 which, though exposed throughout the winter to a 

 temperature of 70 below zero, and often to greater 

 intensity of cold, showed a small green bud at the 

 extremity of each stalk, proving that it was growing 

 in spite of the darkness. 



The immunity from destruction possessed by Arctic 

 plants and animals exposed to such conditions is thus 

 established. But the struggle for existence must, 

 even so, be most severe and exhausting so severe 

 that the impulse to migrate to a less rigorous 

 climate seems suggested by nature. Yet the 

 mammals do not migrate, and the birds return 

 faithfully every summer. The usual explanation 

 of the presence of the Arctic mammals is the 

 assumption that they are the remains of a previous 

 migration northwards. This is rejected by Mr 

 Battye as a movement from favourable to unfavour- 

 able conditions, and so contrary to probability and 

 the facts of experience. The objection is not con- 

 clusive. It is certain that the creatures which in- 



