NOTES. 56T 



rivers flow between banks of rush and sedge ; the swamps are masses of 

 tall rushes and sedges of various species, where phalaropes and ruffs breed,, 

 and the bogs are brilliant with the white fluffy seeds of the cotton-grass. 

 The groundwork of all this variegated scenery is more beautiful and varied 

 still— lichens and moss of almost every conceivable colour, from the cream- 

 coloured reindeer-moss to the scarlet-cupped trumpet-moss, interspersed 

 with a brilliant alpine flora, gentians, anemones, saxifrages, and hundreds 

 of plants, each a picture in itself, the tall aconites, both the blue and 

 yellow species, the beautiful cloudberry, with its gay white blossom and ■ 

 amber fruit, the flagrant Ledum palustre and the delicate pink Andromeda 

 polifolia. In the sheltered valleys and deep water-courses a few stunted 

 birches, and sometimes large patches of willow scrub, survive the long 

 severe winter, and serve as cover for willow-grouse or ptarmigan. The 

 Lapland bunting and red-throated pipit are everywhere to be seen, and 

 certain favoured places are the breeding grounds of plovers and sandpipers- 

 of many species. So far from meriting the name of Barren Ground, the 

 tundra is for the most part a veritable paradise in summer. But it has- 

 one almost fatal drawback — it swarms with millions of mosquitoes." 



Note 8, p. 72. — The Mammoth. 



The Mammoth {Elephas prindgenius) was a near relative of the Indian 

 elephant, if not indeed a variety of the same species. One of its charac- 

 teristics was a woolly covering of brownish hair, rudimentary traces of 

 which have been found in the Indian species. 



It was abundant in Europe before the glacial epoch, and seems to have 

 been especially common in Siberia. Lydekker's Royal Natiiral Hwtory 

 gives a good account of the finding of the mammoth, and the striking fact 

 is noticed that the imports of fossil ivory into England prove that, within 

 a period of twenty years, over 20,000 mammoths must have been dis- 

 covered. 



As Brehm describes, the carcasses are found frozen in the soil, to alt 

 appearance just as the animals died, but the explanation of this is obscure. 

 The particular case to which he alludes was one of the earliest finds — by 

 Adams in 1806. Before Adams reached the carcass, which had been 

 known for some years, the dogs of the yakuts had eaten most of the flesh. 



See also Vogt's Natural History of Mammals. 



Note 9, p. 73. — Colour of the Arctic Fox. 



On the interesting question of the winter colour-change, Mr. Poulton's 

 Colours of Animals and Mr. Beddard's Animal Coloration should be con- 

 sulted. 



Note 10, p. 75. — Reindeer devouring Lemming. 



With reference to Brehm's statement as to reindeer eating lemming, I 

 may note a report on creditable authority that in the hard winter 1894-5 

 stags in Aberdeenshire were known to have eaten rabbits. 



