70 B. H. Scott — Fossil Flora of the Arctic Regions. 



tbat the Swedish, expedition, which went to Disco in the course of 

 last summer, to fetch the meteorite, weighing 25 tons, which he dis- 

 covered at Ovifak in that island, has brought home fossil plants of 

 true Carboniferous age. 



The Carboniferous formation was accordingly extensively de- 

 veloped in the Arctic regions, for it occurs also in the Parry Islands 

 and in Siberia ; on the Lena it approaches the Arctic circle. These 

 facts show us that at that epoch there was an abundance of land near 

 the north pole, covered with a vegetation closely resembling that of 

 •our own latitudes at the same period. Of 18 species of fossil plants 

 at Bear Island,- only 3 are peculiar to it, the others are common to 

 the European localities (such as Lefidodendron Veltheimianuni, 

 Knorria imbricata, etc.) ; and, from the fact that they are as fine and 

 well developed in the northern as in the southern deposits, it is 

 evident that no great difference of climate could have prevailed 

 between the two localities.^ 



In Spitzbergen we have, besides the Miocene Flora and Fauna, an 

 important Diluvial formation. 132 species of Miocene plants have 

 been found, mostly in Eisfiord (lat 78^ N.), but some in King's Bay 

 (lat. 78° 56' N.). The chief form here is an Equiseium {E. arc- 

 ticum); but it is surprising to find a Lime (Tilia Malmgreni) , an Arbor- 

 vitge (Thuites Ehrenswaerdi), a Juniper, and two Poplars nearly. on the 

 79th parallel of latitude. The Flora of the Eisfiord is much richer, 

 especially that of the black slates of Cape Staratschin, where we find 

 26 Conifers belonging to the Abietinece, the Ciipressinecs, and the 

 TaxodiecB. Several of these species are represented not only by leaves 

 but by their flowers and fruit. The chief forest trees were a new 

 Sequoia (S. NordensTcioldi) , of which we have leaves, twigs, and 

 seeds ; Libocedrus Sabiniana, and Taxodium distichum. Of the last 

 named the collection contains, not only the twigs clothed with leaves, 

 but the male and female flowers, the scales and seeds ', so that not 

 even the delicate catkins are wanting to identify this tree with that 

 which is now growing in the Southern States of America. No 

 one can possibly doubt that the tree grew where its remains are 

 now found. Libocedrus Sabiniana is also well represented by 

 its peculiar seeds ; it was the most graceful tree in Spitzbergen, 

 and its nearest congeners are now found in Chili. Of other 

 trees. Poplars are the most common, with the Birch, Hazel, and 

 Snowball (Viburnum) ; but we are not so much surprised at find- 

 ing them as at two large-leaved Oaks, the Ivy, and a Walnut. 



This Flora has the greatest resemblance to that of North Green- 

 land, and the other of Arctic localities ; but several species extend 

 southwards into Europe. On the whole, this Miocene Tlora evi- 

 dences a far greater contrast of climate between Europe and the 

 Arctic regions at that epoch, than that which prevailed during the 

 Lower Carboniferous period. All the ti'opical and even, sub-tropical 



^ Prof. Heer has worked out tbis idea very fully in his paper on Bear Island, and 

 traced the alternations of rise and fall of the land, Avhich probably occurred during 

 the latter part of the Paleeozoic period. 



