NOTES FROM AN ARCTIC JOURNAL. 167 
be admitted as stragglers to the North Temperate area of the 
globe; but if we consider these species to have originated within 
that area, their present distribution is not easily explained. I, 
on the other hand, we admit Professor Heer’s conclusion, that 
one of the commonest of our northern forest trees originated at 
the Pole, and extended southwards, the same may apply to various 
species of animals whose range is now confined to Arctic and 
high northern latitudes. 
Bellot Island, which forms the protection of Discovery Harbour, 
was frequently visited, as our ships lay moored for several days 
close to its shore, awaiting the opening of a water-way in the 
outside pack. On the low spit which stretches from the northern 
end of that island we found several remains of Eskimo encamp- 
ments. Near to one lay a single horn of the Reindeer, and a few 
pieces of drift-wood. Hares were numerous on the island, but 
before our departure we had nearly extirpated the race. Two 
Ermines were also secured. On several occasions we managed 
to have hauls of the dredge inside Discovery Harbour, es at no 
greater depth than twenty or thirty fathoms. 
Early on the morning of the 20th August, under the influence 
of a strong southerly wind, the open water which had been 
observed for several days off Cape Baird seemed inclined to open 
up a lead in the direction of Discovery Harbour. Advantage was 
at once taken of this favourable opportunity, and after a severe 
battle with the heavy floes that had accumulated in Hall Basin and 
imprisoned us in Discovery Harbour, we reached clear water off 
Cape Baird, and ran gaily down Kennedy Channel to the south- 
ward. Just off Cape Baird a flock of twenty Brent Geese passed 
close over the ship, hurrying to the southward—a plain warning 
that the navigable season in Smith Sound was fast drawing to 
a close. 
As we passed close along the coast, and as little snow lay 
on the-line of shore-hills, we had a favourable opportunity of 
observing the general structure of the coast. At Cape Lieber, 
an abrupt and imposing headland, the strata are wonderfully 
contorted and crumpled up: in this respect they agree with the 
coast-line of Grinnell Land as far north as Cape Rawson, and 
Ihave no doubt belong to the same series of azoic slates and 
limestones. To the southward of Cape Lieber a different forma- 
tion evidently occurs. Instead of the dull grey which is the 
