310 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
side. His special study was ornithology, but he had 
a sound knowledge of other branches of natural history 
and of geology, and was indefatigable as an observer and 
collector. 
Great as the scientific value of the collections was 
found to be, the conclusions to be derived from the 
discoveries when combined with those of former ex- 
peditions were of quite equal importance. We are able 
to understand the enormous pressure exerted by the ice 
along the newly-discovered coasts, and we see exactly 
the same thing as described by M'Clintock on Prince 
Patrick. Island, by M'Clure on Banks Island, and by 
Collinson, in a less degree, on the coast north of America. 
The conclusion was inevitable that a current drives the 
ice across the polar ocean from east to west, with a set 
down the east coast of Greenland. This discovery threw 
a new light on the whole polar economy, and for this 
reason, combined with the scientific results, the Nares 
expedition must occupy a very high place in the annals 
of Arctic enterprise. My own conclusion at the time, 
based on the considerations above indicated, was that 
there was a deep ocean north of Franz Josef Land, and 
that a great result would be obtained by a vessel drifting 
across it with the current from Eastern Siberia towards 
Greenland. 
