354 GEOGRAPHICAL BOTANY. 



Chenopod., Pterococcus, Statice, Populus^Ephedra.AlUum, 

 Typlia, and Triticum (2 sp.) 



Middendorf has commenced the arrangement of the 

 results of his journey through the north of Siberia, which 

 was mentioned in the preceding annual report (Bulletin 

 Petersbourg, iii, pp. 150 et seq.) The Tundres of the 

 Taimyr country, i. e. the peninsula situated between the 

 lower Jenisei and the Katanga, contain in their diluvial 

 loam, in addition to the mammalia of the diluvium, large 

 masses of wood either in a bituminous state, such as is 

 found in the peat moors, or converted into peat. In such 

 of these tracts, however, as were beyond the tree limit, 

 the stems were only met with lying horizontally, and were 

 compared by Middendorf to the floating timber of the 

 arctic coast, and from which, by the rising of the land, 

 they may have gradually attained the interior. The trees 

 appear to be of the same kinds as those in the forests of 

 New Siberia and the fluviatile valleys of Siberia, consist- 

 ing principally of the beech and larch ; they have not 

 yet, however, been examined microscopically, hence these 

 statements require confirmation. The climate of the 

 Taimyr country appeared to be less cold than might have 

 been expected : from the 6th of June to the 8th of August 

 there was no frost there; constant fogs and storms 

 (especially in summer, so that in May, June, and half of 

 July, the altitude of the sun could only be taken three 

 times,) indicated great irregularities in the distribution of 

 heat in the atmosphere. The high surface of the country, 

 which rises to an elevation of 1000', was perfectly free 

 from snow in the summer ; even in the winter, storms 

 sweep the snow into the lowest parts, frequently leaving 

 the heights bare. In the middle of July, Middendorf 

 saw at Taimyr 1500 square miles (Eng.) free from snow, 

 in a few narrow valleys only was any still remaining. 

 The lakes only freeze to a depth of eight feet ; the layer 

 of snow then protects them from any deeper penetration 

 of the frost. As regards the botanical results, we must 

 wait for further reports, on account of the want of accu- 

 rate determinations of the plants. 



