1892.] Geography and Travels. 43 



different forms. Every, or nearly every, island developed ttepecuHar 



" Now, after it has been shown that the Galapagos Islands are con- 

 tinental islands, the question arises, How about other continental 

 groups which are generally considered to-day of oceanic origin ? How 

 about the Sandwich Islands and the others in the Pacific Ocean ? And 

 how about the theory of the constancy of the ocean basins? Is this 

 theory on a sound basis? I do not think so; and I am glad to say 

 that this theory has been doubted recently by eminent geologists. 



" But geology seems to be unable to give a definite answer. Here biol- 

 ogy came to help by a detailed study of the organisms of the different 

 groups of islands and their geographical distribution. I think it will 

 nearly always be possible to determine whether the groups have origi- 

 nated through subsidence or through elevation. In the first case we 

 will find harmony ; in the second case, disharmony. 

 North Greenland Expedition. 



Prof. Heilprin followed with a report of the expedition sent out last 

 June by the Academy of Natural Sciences to Greenland. He reviewed 

 the journey from Disco to McCormack Bay, where Lieutenant Peary 

 and his party were left. He described the town of Godhavn, and gave 

 a vivid word-picture of the bleak coast of Greenland. He told min- 

 utely the story of the struggle with the ice-pack in Melville Bay. and 

 described the appearance of the great ice sheets and of the huge ice- 

 bergs met with. He also gave a sketch of the place where Lieutenant 

 Peary built his headquarters, and what he expected to accomplish. 

 Prof. Heilprin also reported briefly on the valuable collections made, 

 and of the otherwise successful results of the expedition. 

 Labrador's Fauna and Flora. 



Prof. L. A. Lee, of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., made a report 

 on the scientific expedition to Labrador last summer, under the title of 

 "Scientific Results of the Bowdoin College Expedition to Labrador." 

 The party consisted of nineteen persons, mostly graduates of the College, 

 and left Rockland Me., on the 27th of last June, returning September 

 24. Most of the time was spent on the coast of Labrador, between the 

 Straits of Belle Isle and Hopedale, Latitude 55° 27' North. Much 

 dredgino- was done along the coast, which brought to light abundant 

 species of .molluscs and Crustacea, many of them new to the known 

 fauna of the country. 



In the mouth of Hamilton Inlet a true deep-sea deposit wae foond 

 in fifty fathoms of water, where the bottom consisted largely of the 



