792 General Notes. | December, 
correspondence of the New York Herald, we learn that the win- 
ter was a severe one; intense cold with constant north-west 
winds, with only rare intervals of mild weather, was experienced. 
Snow-storms were of almost continual occurrence. Three camps 
of Tschuktschi were on the shore near their anchorage. These 
Savages possess many excellent traits. They are amiable, obliging 
and peaceable, both among themselves and towards strangers. 
Their complexion is a brownish-yellow, hair and eyes generally 
black. The features are less Mongolian in type than are those of 
the Esquimaux, or the other indigenous tribes of Siberia. The 
men are tall and the young women often of perfect symmetry and 
fine proportions. They trade frequently with the American shore, 
which is accessible in winter and summer over ice or the open sea. 
They live in tents, dress in skins and subsist on seals, reindeer, 
bears, fish and vegetables. The women are tattooed on the face. 
The language spoken by this tribe is peculiar, and so far shows 
no affinity to others. A lexicon of 300 words has been made by 
Lieut. Nordqvist. 
During the whole period that the Vega remained at Koljuts- 
chin bay, hourly meteorological and magnetic observations were 
taken. The months of March, April and May were very cold. 
In June the temperature became more supportable. From the 
very slight rise and fall of the tide, Prof. Nordenskiöld believes 
the sea north of Behring strait must be small, and is probably 
circumscribed by islands between Wrangel land and the archi- 
pelago of which Prince Patrick’s island is the most western now 
known. No sickness occurred on board, owing, doubtless, to an 
abundance of good provisions, including a little fresh meat even 
in the severest months, good discipline and the superior physique 
of the members of the expedition. The advancing spring 
brought large flocks of birds; many of these are supposed to 
winter in Japan and others in North America. Dr. Stuxberg 
has sent to the Academy of Science in Stockholm, a preparatory 
memoir regarding the numerous specimens collected by the 
dredge, during the voyage, of Crustacea, Echinodermata and 
Crinoida. Some are of extraordinary size and not previously 
known. This portion of the Arctic sea, though comparatively 
poor in Algæ, afforded many specimens corresponding in the 
western portion to the European and in the eastern to the Pacific 
varieties. Large collections of mosses and lichens were also 
made. The northern lights never attained the brilliancy observa- 
ble in Scandinavia. : 
Nordenskiöld calls attention to the difference in the coast east 
to that west of the Lena: “On the western side the country 
rises northward almost to the 78°, or to a latitude exceedea in- 
very few places on the Polar sea, and where we may generally — 
fear to encounter impenetrable masses of ice.- On the eastern 
side the coast slopes gradually southward, and the sound which 
