28 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



fattens better, his skin is cleaner, and his hair finer than 

 when he feeds upon the best herbage, at which time he 

 makes a hideous appearance." 



In the extreme north of Norway and Sweden, a clothing 

 of a kind of moss (Polytrichum] prevails, of the most luxu- 

 riant beauty ; and we find Captain M'Clure giving a corre- 

 sponding description of an island lying in the same latitude 

 on the north coast of America, Baring's Island, discovered 

 and taken possession of by him for Her Majesty. He says, 

 ( ' Prom an elevation obtained of about five hundred feet, we 

 had a fine view towards the interior, which was well clothed 

 with moss, giving a verdant appearance to the ranges of 

 hills that rose gradually to between 2000 and 3000 feet." 



The natives on the coasts of those seas which Captain 

 M'Clure explored, must be very different from those of the 

 Arctic Eegion in the Old World, of whom we have been 

 accustomed to hear dismal descriptions. He speaks of 

 them as " a kind and merry race " " a fine, intelligent race, 

 cleanly, handsome, and well-grown;" and deeply regrets 

 that hitherto so little has been done towards their conversion 

 and civilization. 



