Sept. 25, 1873 | 
NATURE 
435 
observed) should visit these very inconspicuous flowers. 
The fringing hairs in the flowers of the largest form, 
so nicely securing the perpendicular falling of the pollen- 
ins upon the proboscis, are quite useless in a 
ower regularly restricted to self-fertilisation ; indeed, in 
the anthers of the smallest form we find no fringing hairs 
at all, or only a few isolated ones. 
» The two extreme forms here described graduate into 
each other by various intermediate forms. When pub- 
lishing my book on “ Fertilisation of Flowers by Insects,” 
I had never observed either the largest or the smallest 
form here described. From this cause the figures in page 
291 of my work, drawn from other varieties, differ in 
some points from the description here given. 
In Lysimachia vulgaris the two forms here described 
are so closely allied, that no botanist, for aught I know, has 
considered them worthy of being distinguished as varieties 
by separate names ; in Euphrasia officinalis the difference 
between the two forms is somewhat greater, and some 
botanists, although overlooking the different manner of 
fertilisation, have distinguished them as varieties, (for in- 
stance,Ascherson in his “ Flora der Provinz Brandenburg”), 
In a third example of the same dimorphism of 
flowers, presented by Rhinanthus crista galli, the diver- 
gence of the two forms has proceeded so far that most 
botanists distinguish them by separate names, some 
as varieties (Xi. crista galli a and f of Linnzus), others 
as distinct species (72/. major Ehrh. and Rh. minor Ehrh). 
These two forms differ with respect to their fertilisation, 
nearly in the same manner as the largest and the smallest 
form of Euphrasia officinalis. Rh. minor having a 
smaller corolla, and therefore being but rarely visited by 
insects, regularly fertilises itself when insects do not visit 
it, by bending the stigma beneath the pollen-sac, which 
at last opens spontaneously, and covers the stigma 
with its pollen-grains. In A/. major the stigma so far 
overtops the polJen-sac that self-fertilisation is excluded. 
It is, however, aremarkable difference between RA. minor 
and the smallest form of Zuphrasia officinalis, that the 
former is regularly cross-fertilised, when visited by in- 
sects, if this happens not too late, and that it only has 
recourse to self-fertilisation if altogether unvisited by 
insects.* 
Lippstadt, Sept. 9 HERMANN MULLER 
THE ‘ POLARIS’ ARCTIC EXPEDITION 
‘TRE missing link in the story of the Polaris Expedi- 
tion has been picked up, and the narrative, as a 
whole, is one of the strangest in the whole history of 
Arctic adventure. Our readers may remember the story 
we gave of the 19 persons who were left on the ice-floe 
when the Polaris broke from her moorings in about N. 
lat. 79°, on the night of October 19, 1872, and who were 
all miraculously rescued six months later off the coast of 
Labrador. Eleven more of the crew arrived at Dundee 
last Friday afternoon in the whaling vessel, Arctic, Capt. 
Adams. Among these eleven are, Capt. S. O. Budding- 
ton, sailing and ice master, Dr. Emil Bessels, H. C. 
Chester, first mate, W. Martin, second mate, Emil Schu- 
mann, chief engineer, A. Odell, second engineer, besides 
a fireman, the carpenter, and three seamen. 
After the ship drifted away from the floe she ultimately 
reached Lifeboat Cove, where it was resolved to beach 
her, which was done after much trouble. From the 
timbers of the ship a house was constructed on shore, and 
by the help of a few friendly Esquimaux, and the provi- 
sions and coals saved from the Po/aris, the fourteen men 
spent the winter much more comfortably than might have 
been expected under the circumstances. Towards the 
end of the winter, however, it was resolved to make an 
* A further explanation of these two forms is given in my book “‘ Die 
Befruchtung der Blumen durch Insekten,” pp. 294-296. 
attempt to push southwards, and for this purpose 
under the superintendence of the energetic first mate, 
Mr. Chester, of whom all the crew speak in high 
terms, two boats were, amid many hardships, constructed 
out of some of the cabin-timbers of the Polaris. About 
the middle of last June, the boats having been completed 
and packed with what provision could be had, as well as 
ammunition, the party bade adieu to Lifeboat Cove and 
proceeded to make their way southwards. After many 
anxieties Cape York was reached on June 21. Here the 
boats were quite beset among the ice, l ut the greatest 
possible excitement and fear were experienced when, on 
the 23rd, a vessel was espied. She turned out to be the 
Ravenscraig whaler, of Dundee, Capt. Allan. All hands 
determined to reach the ship with the least possible delay, 
but in doing so they were greatly assisted by Capt. Allan, 
who had sent his crew to help them in carrying what 
things they had in their possession. They brought one 
boat with them and left the other. On reaching the ship 
they were very kindly treated, but subsequently, so that 
the fishing operations might be interrupted as little as 
possible, Capt. Allan shipped a few on the Avctic. The 
latter vessel having completed her fishing earlier than 
expected, and knowing that the crew of the Polaris would 
be anxious to return home as speedily as possible, Captain 
Adams, her commander, went in search of the Ravens- 
craig, Finding her, he took on board those of the sur- 
vivors it contained, but Capt. Allan had previously put on 
board the /uzrepid—R. W. D. Bryan, astronomer and chap- 
lain ; J. B. March, seaman ; and John W. Booth, fireman. 
The /ntrefid is expected in the course of a few weeks. The 
men state that the privations which they suffered were by 
no means of a serious character. The life was rough, 
laborious, and monotonous, and although danger occa- 
sionally presented itself in a way well calculated to 
inspire the greatest fear, yet no accident of any import- 
ance occurred to the adventurers. 
Capt. Markham, R.N., accompanied Capt. Adams, of 
the Arctic, on his whaling voyage with the view of making 
investigations in the northern regions. The captain left 
Dundee on Friday, and was present in the Geographical 
Section at Bradford on Saturday, where he was received 
with great enthusiasm, and where he announced himself 
as heart and soul a convert to the Smith Sound route to 
the Pole. ; 
The men connected with the Polaris Arctic expedition 
left Dundee on Monday, and Liverpool on Tuesday, for 
New York. All were in excellent health and spirits, and 
some of them say that they would have no objection to 
go on another such enterprise. Capt. Buddington states 
that Capt. Hall was buried in lat. 81°38 N., and long. 
6144 W. The vice-consul examined the crew of the 
Polaris on Monday, and transmitted their depositions to 
America, so that their statements may be extant should 
any accident befall themselves. 
Dr. Bessel, who was the chief of the scientific party 
connected with the expedition, states that zoological, 
meteorological, botanical, and geological specimens were 
collected, but many of them were lost when the crew 
separated in October last. Careful and minute observa- 
tions were also made, and after the explorers were picked 
up by the Ravenscraig they were continued. These 
surveys, of course, were not so exact as was to be 
desired, there being little convenience and very few in- 
struments. The specimens taken on board the whalers 
are all preserved, and it is believed that, from a 
scientific point of view, they will be of very great value. 
The opinion of Dr. Bessel is that, had no accident 
occurred to the Po/aris, the expedition would have been 
prosecuted. Regarding statements which had been made 
respecting the causes which led to the death of Captain 
Hall, he asserts that the captain was earried off by an 
attack of apoplexy. The doctor declines to enter into 
the question as to the management of the expedition after 
