PREFACE. 



The subject-matter of this " Manual " is arranged under 

 the two headings of— Part I. Biology and Zoology, and 

 Part II. Physics. The former is subdivided geographically 

 into — § I. Davis Strait, Baffin's Bay, and the coasts con- 

 tinuing northwards, under the general term of "West 

 Greenland." § II. The great Arctic -American Archipelago, 

 including the Parry Islands. § III. East Greenland, with 

 Spitzbergen and Franz- Joseph Land. 



The short time allowed for preparation limited more 

 especially the treatment of the last section, and has caused 

 also an irregularity in the arrangement of some earlier 

 articles, such as Nos. X., LIX.,LXXL, LXXVI., and CVIII. 



Part II. (Physics), having had a still shorter time of 

 preparation, is without an Index, the Table of Contents 

 serving that purpose. Indeed § III. of Part I. is not fully 

 represented in the Index. 



This " Manual '' consists mainly of Reprints and Excerpts 

 from Transactions, Proceedings, Journals, Magazines, and 

 Foreign Books, and from English ''Voyages," and their 

 " Appendices " when the treatment of a subject required 

 correlative matter to be brought forward. 



Perfect uniformity in the printing of geographical and 

 natural-history names has not been attempted. The plans 

 and systems of different authors, the fashions of their day, 

 the inaccuracies of some, the peculiarities of others, and 

 the pressure of circumstances, have affected the style of 

 reproduction in the several articles. 



It has not been practicable in many cases to refer direct 

 to the authors of the reprinted papers, even of late date, or 

 to submit proofs for their inspection ; several, however, 

 have had the advantage of revision by their authors. 



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