Preface. 



D, 



Wing the preparation of the following work I have constantly 

 been reminded of the man to whom the present and other rich geological 

 collections of the Second Fram Expedition are due, the gifted and 

 assiduous geologist of the expedition, PER SCHEI. 



It seems but yesterday since that interesting period after the home- 

 coming of the expedition, the autumn of 1902 when SCHEI unpacked 

 his rich collections, and we began together the preliminary examination 

 of the specimens. 



How his eyes used to gleam when anything of special beauty and 

 interest came to light! How enthusiastic we were over the wonderful 

 Silurian and Devonian collections from Goose Fiord, and the lovely 

 fossils from the carboniferous limestone at Great Bear Gape! 



Many of the specimens awakened in him memories of ever memo- 

 rable days spent in the far north, of journeys and adventures. One 

 story would succeed another, and entranced by his merry humour, or 

 again at times by a more serious note, work was often forgotten. 



During the following winter the preparation of the whole material 

 was planned. SCHEI himself undertook the petrographic and general 

 geological work, whilst the fossils were assigned to various specialists. 

 He threw himself with the greatest energy into the work that he had 

 looked forward to during the whole of that long, arduous expedition in 

 northern latitudes. The views and hypotheses that he had formed in 

 those desolate regions would now at last be tested and examined. 



Everything seemed to be bright and hopeful, and we his colleagues 

 and friends eagerly awaited the work that was about to come from 

 SCHEI, convinced as we were that he would prove himself to be not 

 only a fearless and energetic explorer, but also an eminently gifted and 

 original man of science. 



