. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. VEGETABLE LIFE. 91 sion. The northern Indians consider the fruit af a bush called the Aronia ovalis as the most agreeable food; besides which they have the strawberry, raspberry, red whortleberry, and various others. Several of these are covered beneath the first snows of winter, which are supposed to mellow them, and, when disclosed by the return of spring, the berries a
. Narrative of discovery and adventure in the polar seas and regions [microform] : with illustrations of their climate, geology, and natural history ; and an account of the whale-fishery. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. VEGETABLE LIFE. 91 sion. The northern Indians consider the fruit af a bush called the Aronia ovalis as the most agreeable food; besides which they have the strawberry, raspberry, red whortleberry, and various others. Several of these are covered beneath the first snows of winter, which are supposed to mellow them, and, when disclosed by the return of spring, the berries are seen still hanging on the branches, while the buds of the others are bursting,â the whole producing a delightful impression, unknown to those who have not witnessed the desolation that immediately preceded. Those climates enjoy, besides, a precious boon in the plants which act as an antidote to scurvy, and which defy the severest cold of the Arctic zone. The Cochlearittf a thick-tufted juicy plant of extreme fecundity, is em- phatically called scurvy-grass ; and the different species of sorrel, especially the Bumex digynuSy were found by Captain Parry flourishing under the snow at the very faithest limit of vegetation. The extraordinary phenomenon of red-snow, observed by Captain Ross and other Arctic voyagers, naturally excited the greatest interest both at home and abroad. This singular tint in a substance, with whica we never fail to associate an idea of the purest and most radiant whiteness, has been ascertained to result from an assem- blage of very minute bodies, belonging to the class of cryptogamic plants and the natural order called Algte. They form the species named Protococcus Nivalis by Agardh, which is synonymous with the Uredo Nivalis of Mr Bauer. This production seems by no means peculiar to the Arctic mountains, but occurs on limestone rocks in the island of Lismore in Scotland, as well as among the Alps and other countries of Europe. Saussure ob- served it
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