REVIEWS B25 
private parties in 1887-89-92. The object was the study of the fauna 
and flora, geology, geography, and meteorology of the Kola penin- 
sula or Russian Lapland which lies between the White Sea and the 
Arctic Ocean. It is roughly 200 by 300 miles in area and was practi- 
cally an unknown territory, the largest on the map of Europe. More- 
over, the region presents some peculiarly interesting features. It is a 
moderately high and smooth area almost entirely within the Arctic 
circle. It was almost directly in the path of the Scandinavian ice- 
sheet as it advanced into Russia. It also promised to throw some 
light on the transition from the Scandinavian ‘“‘Urgebirge” into the 
sedimentary formations of North Russia or from the Alpine regions 
of the west to the flat Tundras of the East. The scientists of the 
party were Dr. R. Enwald and Professor J. A. Palmen, zodlogists, Drs. 
V. F. Brotherus and A. O. Kihlman, botanists, Dr. W. Ramsay, geol- 
ogist and Mag. A. Petrelius, geodesist. The results were many and 
various. The peninsula was found to be a plateau of moderate height 
with a mountain mass, West of the center reaching a height of 3900 
feet. The main part of the area shows only crystalline rocks, granite, 
gneiss and schists called by Ramsay “Grundgebirge.” There are 
little fringes of sedimentary rocks on the north, south, and south- 
east coast. These are without fossils and are referred to the Devonian. 
The mountains referred to are thought to be eruptive and are composed 
of nepheline-syenite. This highland furnishes a favorable place for 
the study of glaciation. Proof was found that the highest land was 
covered by an eastward moving ice-sheet. Following this was a 
so-called ‘“ Nunatak” period when the ice moved southeastward. 
There were abundant proofs of local glaciation reaching well toward 
the present. A considerable series of rock was collected and the 
results of petrographical studies by Dr. Hackman are given in much 
detail. 
The biologic work was none the less important. Maps are given 
showing the tree limit and the distribution of pines, birches and juni- 
pers. The flora was found not to be so strongly Arctic as had been 
supposed. The mosses and lichens were studied by Brotherus and 
Sanio, while Kihlman treats of the natural conditions of the country 
as regards the growth and distribution of vegetation. We know no 
equally full and lucid treatment of the subject for an Arctic region. 
We wish in closing to express our appreciation of this work as a 
whole. The University of Helsingfors, the Finnish Society and the 
