art 
a] 
R. I. Murchison on the Arctic Regions. 377 
this separation of conductive action may well seerh perfect and 
entire to those whose minds are inclined rather to see conduction 
proper replaced by electrolytic conduction, than to consider it as 
reduced, but not destroyed; disappearing, as it were, for elec- 
tricity of great quantity and small intensity, but still abundantly 
sufficient for all natural and artificial phenomena, such as those 
described, where intensity and time both unite in favoring the 
final results require 
it we must not dogmatise on natural principles, or decide 
upon their physical nature without proof; and, indeed, the two 
modes of electric action, the electrolytic and the static, are so 
different yet each so important, the one doing all by quantity at 
very low intensity, the other giving many of its chief results by 
intensity with scarcely any proportionate quantity, that it wonld 
dangerous to deny too hastily the conduction proper to a few 
Cases in static induction, where water is the conductor, whilst it 
is known to be essential to the many, only because, when water 
is the electrolyte employed, electrolytic conduction is essential to 
every case of electrolytic action. 
on the Rock Specimens brought from that Region; by Sir 
operick Impey Murcuison, D.C.L., F.R.S., V.P.G.8., Di- 
rector-General of the Geological Survey.* 
On esent occasion I cannot attempt to offer any general, 
still less any detailed description of the rocks and fossils of the 
northwestern portion of that great Arctic Archipelago whose 
shores were first explored by Parry and Sabine. The specimens 
they brought home from Melville Island, and which were de- 
scribed by Mr. Kénig, first conveyed to us the general knowledge 
of the existence there of fossiliferous limestones and other rocks 
analogous to known European types in Scandinavia. Since those 
early days, the voyages of Frauklin, and of the various gallant 
officers who have been in search of our lamented friend, have 
amplified those views, and have shown us that over nearly the 
Whole of the Arctic Archipelago these vast islands possess a 
Stricture similar to that of North America. We shall soon, I 
ieve, be made acquainted with the characters of the specimens 
collected by the expedition under Sir Edward Belcher, who is 
Preparing a description of the natural-history products of m4 a 
vey. My chief object now is to call attention to the remarkable 
fact of the occurrence of considerable quantities of wood, capable 
‘a From the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. xi, p. 36. 
48 
Secon Series, Vol. XXI, No, 63.—May, 1856. 
