54 



The table shows that the western element is greater than th- 

 Eiiropean and that four -fifths of the flora may as well have immie 

 grated from the west as from the east. 



As erratic blocks actually have been found on several rugged 

 peaks and as the weathering action of the arctic climate will 

 produce rugged alpine surfaces, even when the peaks have been 

 rounded by ice action (R. S. Tarr), it seems improbable that 

 any considerable part of the flora of Greenland has survived the 

 Great Ice Age, at least a surviving would be impossible to the 

 great southern element, three fifths of the flora, now found only 

 in sheltered lowland positions. If that element could immigrate 

 in post-glacial time, it would be much easier for the arctic element. 



As Greenland is separated towards the East, West, and South 

 by great distances of sea and only towards the north has it a 

 neighboring country still poorer in plants than itself, the dif- 

 ficulties of immigration under present climatic conditions are 

 very great. Geologists also deny the existence of post-glacial 

 land-connections with Greenland. The problems of immigration 

 would be much easier, if we assume for the Arctic countries 

 a post-glacial warmer epoch, in analogy with facts established 

 for Northern Europe. 



An actual evidence of a more genial climate in Greenland was 

 found by Ad. S. Jansen and P. Harder in the occurrence of 

 bivalves in raised marine beds at 68° N. lat., of which no living 

 specimens are known north of the estuary of the St. Lawrence 

 River. The difi"erence in the present average temperatures of 

 the warmest month of the places mentioned is at least 14° F. 



If a milder post-glacial epoch could be affirmed generally for 

 Northern America, it probably would yield an explanation of 

 the fact that the present habitations of the Eskimo everywhere 

 are bordered with a broad zone formerly inhabited but now un- 

 inhabitable. And if that epoch was contemporaneous with the 

 North European, ending about 1000 B. C., it might place the 

 dispersal of the Eskimo and the development of their culture to 

 completeness back to the Neolithic Age. 



After discussion of Mr. Porsild's paper, the meeting adjourned. 



Marshall A. Howe 

 Secretary. 



