54 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
insects began to show themselves in any large numbers, among 
them many Harpalids, two large species of Carabus, and a large 
Curculionid. The insects occurring here however are not very 
numerous either in respect of species or individuals, which is not 
strange when we consider that the earth at a limited depth from 
the surface is constantly frozen. As even the shallow layer, 
which thaws in summer, is hard frozen in winter, all the insects 
which occur here must in one or other phase of their develop¬ 
ment endure being frozen solid for some time. But it may be 
remarked with reason with reference to this, that if life in an 
organism may so to speak be suspended for months by freezing 
stiff without being destroyed, what is there to prevent this 
suspension being extended over years, decades, or centuries ? 
The common idea, that all animal life ceases, when the interior 
animal heat sinks under the freezing-point of water, is besides 
not quite correct. This is proved by the abundant evertebrate 
life which is found at the bottom of the Polar Sea, even where 
the water all the year round has a temperature of — 2° to — 2°’7 
C., and by the remarkable observation made during the wintering 
Salix Chamissoiiis Anders. 
„ arctica Pall. 
,, cuneata Turcz. 
* „ reticulata L. 
„ species ? 
Betula glandulosa MiCHX. f. rotun- 
difolia Regel 
Elymus mollis Trin. 
* Festuca rubra L. f. arenaria 
OSB. 
* Poa flexuosa Wg. 
Arctophila effusa J. Lge. 
Glyceria vilfoidea (Ands.) Th. Fr. 
,, vaginata J. Lge'. f. con- 
tracteta J. Lge. 
* Catabrosa algid a (Sol.) Fr. 
* Colpodium latifolium E. Br. 
Dupontia Fischeri R. Br. 
* Trisetum subspicatum (L.) P. B. 
* Aira csespitosa L. f. borealis 
Trautv. 
Alopecurus alpinus Sm. 
* Hierochloa alpina (Liljebl.) Roem. 
and ScH. 
* Carex rariflora (Wg.) Sm. 
„ aqvatilis f. epijegos L^est. 
„ glareosa Wg. 
* „ lagopina Wg. 
Eriophorum angustifolium Roth. 
„ vaginatum L. 
* „ russeolum Fr. 
* Luzula parviflora (Ehrh.) Desv. 
* ,, Wablenbergii Rupr. 
* „ arcuata (Wg.) Sw. f. con- 
fusa Lindeb. 
* Juncus biglumis L. 
Lloydia serotina (L.) Reichenb. 
