Page:Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol. 34.djvu/104

70 We have previously pointed out ('Flora foss. Aretica,' ii. p. 16) that the Miocene flora of Spitzbergen as compared with that of Greenland would seem to indicate a considerable climatic difference, inasmuch as a great number of more southern forms which Greenland possesses—such as Castanea, evergreen Magnolia, Prunus, Ilex, MacClintockia, and Coccolites—are wanting in Spitzbergen. The same holds good with regard to Grinnell Land.

On the other hand, the facts hitherto brought forward indicate no difference between Spitzbergen and the plant-bearing locality of Grinnell Land, lying from 3 to 4 degrees of latitude further north. It is true that the Miocene flora of Spitzbergen is very much richer, since we are already acquainted with 179 species belonging to it. This, however, is probably due to the fact that Professor Nordenskiöld and his comrades collected in Spitzbergen with great zeal and success during several expeditions, whilst the plant-bearing locality of Grinnell Land was only visited by members of the English Expedition on a few occasions. It is to be particularly noted that Taxodium distichum and a Water-Lily still appear in this place. The latter presupposes fresh water, which must have remained open during a great part of the year; and the Taxodium excludes an Arctic climate. Indeed it only exists still in North Germany by cultivation, and Professor Schübeler's repeated attempts to cultivate it at Christiania were in vain (comp. 'Pflanzenwelt Norwegens' by Schübeler p. 148). Representatives of plants now living exclusively in the Arctic zone are wanting among the species of Grinnell Land; but, on the other hand, certainly most of the genera still extend into the Arctic zone, viz. Equisetum, Pinus, Phragmites, Carex, Populus, Betula, Corylus, Ulmus, and Nymphæa. Of these, however, only Equisetum, Carex, and Populus extend beyond latitude 70° N.; the remaining genera cease earlier. Pinus abies, L., reaches latitude 69° 30' N.; the genus Phragmites, in P. communis, in Finmark, to latitude 69° 45' N.; Corylus, in C. avellana, to latitude 67° 56' N.; Ulmus, in U. montana, in Norway, to latitude 66° 59' N., and cultivated to nearly latitude 70° N.; Nymphæa, in N. alba, in Scandinavia, to latitude 69° 11' N. These genera therefore appear in Grinnell Land at from 12 to 15 degrees higher latitude.

P.S., 20th Jan., 1878.—Mr. Edward Moss, Surgeon of H.M.S. 'Alert,' collected some fossil plants in the same spot as Captain Feilden, and has submitted them to Prof. Heer's examination. They belong to 14 species, 4 of which are wanting in Captain Feilden's collection. We therefore know at present 30 species of Miocene plants from Grinnell Land. Descriptions and figures of all the species will be published in the fifth volume of the 'Flora fossilis arctica.'

The, after expressing his sense of the value of Prof. Heer's paper, referred to the great difficulties under which Capt. Feilden laboured during his visit to the Arctic region, and remarked