Febrqarv 8, 1900J 



iVA TUKli 



340 



itle scope for collecting hitherto unknown eggs, as Mr. 

 1 opham had in the same season already found the nest 



)t the curlew sandpiper, thus, according to Mr. Pearson, 

 ,aining the '• blue ribbon of the oological world." The 



nain zoological object was the observation of new 

 tacts relating to the habits and nesting plumage of the 

 birds that breed round the Harents Sea. The results are 

 illustrated by a valuable series of photographs, including 



hose of nests of the dotterel, red-throated diver, little 



tint, peregrine falcon and purple sandpiper, and the 



oung of the rough-legged buzzard. The first young 

 ilewick swans brought to England were collected during 



lie e.xpedition, which also olatained many eggs of the 

 little stint. The finding of the first nest of this bird 



on shore from a steamer do nc)t otler much opportunity 

 for their study. 



Tlie same conditions have limited Colonel Feilden's 

 work on botany and geology. An extensive scries of 

 jjlants was collected, enabling Mr. Uurkill to make some 

 collections and additions to tlie floral lists of this regioi). 

 Tiie physio'ogical problems of the Arctic flora, such as 

 those discu-^seil in Ekstam's paper on the flora of Novaya 

 Zemlya, require careful study on a small area, rather 

 than rapid collecting during a lengthy cruise. Geological 

 progress in this r^-gion also now requires continuous 

 work on shore. The general outlines have been long 

 well known. Thus, the mapping of the eastern side of Dol- 

 gaya Bay, where Colonel Keilden corrects the Russian 



'i Guillemots. (N.amnless Bay.) 



Mr. Pearson describes as one of those "few joyful 

 moments that stand out clear and sharp in the memory, 

 and will never be forgotten while life lasts " The largest ■ 

 egg collection made was of Briinnich's guillemot ; 440 

 specimens were obtained from one small clifif. The 

 series showed extreme colour-variation, and as tlie birds 

 were feeding on the same food and the eggs were laid 

 under identical conditions, Mr. Pearson thinks that "it 

 is scarcely possible these abnormal variations can serve 

 any useful purpose." He commends this : problem to 

 other naturalists, as " this subject of the coloration of 

 eggs is truly one of which we may be said to know 

 nothing yet." Unfortunately no material contribution 

 to such problems is made in this book, as short dashes 



NO. 1580, VOL. 61] 



Inde.x Map (1892), was correctly represented in Keysef- 

 ling's map of 1846 Rapid reconnaissances from the sea 

 cannot now yield such im|)ortant results^as zonal coliecl- 

 ing in the pahcozoic racks, accurate mapping of small 

 areas of the Arch.xan series, and careful analyses of the 

 glacial gravels. The only point in the book open to 

 serious criticism is the lack of system in the spelling of 

 the proper names. As so much of the literature on this 

 region is in Russian, it is a pity to add uncertainty 

 regarding names to the existing difficulties. Some words, 

 such as Habarova, are rendered phonetically ; others, 

 such as Waigatch (Pearson) or Waigats (Feilden) may be 

 concessions to convention ; but others, such as Petsora 

 and Matyushin, appear inexplicable. The two authors 



