SPITSBERGEN TREASURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17853, 6 August 1921, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPITSBERGEN TREASURES.

AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

BIRDS, OYSTERS, AND GLACIERS.

Two parties of Oxford scientists have sailed in a sealing sloop for Eastern Spitsbergen. This party includes zoologists and botanists, whose mission it will be to make some fascinating investigations into the habits of some rare and almost unknown Arctic birds and the rate of growth of certain spineless marine creatures, such as oysters and sponges. Ihe expedition may, indeed > solve some problems of bird and marine life that have long puzzled naturalists; and there are other aspects of it, concerning the geology and the climatic conditions of the Arctic regions, that are of ihe highest scientific interest.

This is the first time in the history of Oxford University that a scientific expedition has been equipped to explore the Arctic seas. Many names famous in science are to be found among the members Taking part in the expedition.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this work will be the study of the habits of a lovely wading bird known as the grey pharalope, and those of the equally loveby sandpiper. The female of both these species leaves everything but the actual •aA-ing of tho eggs to her mate. He builds the nest, sits on the eggs, and feeds the young—a henpecked husband if ever there was one—while she goes off to enjoy hersed. J Birds and their Pamilies. The ornithologists of the expedition hope to make a carefnl study of these two species of Arctic birds, for very little is known about them. The summer months aflord the best opportunity for makinc this study, as the Spitsbergen deserted in winter—are then alive with thousands of bird visitors, all busily engaged in rearing their families. There will be an equaliy, fascinating problem for the students of certain forms of marine life. Invertebrates—that i« sprneless creatures—like the ivster and the sponge, have, of course. a"hi?h economic value. Experiments have been goin<r on for some time at Plymouth designed to test the rate of growth of These creatures. Rafts are constructed and lowered into the sea at times when the larvae of these invertebrates are most common. Some of the larvae attach themselves to the rafts, and are later collected and «cud:*d it is not known whether the summer and winter growths of these sea animals are uniform—a point which in the case of oysters, to take one instance, is of Teat economic importance. & It is hoped to make experiments at Spitsbergen similar to those it Piviufntn and to compare the two results. ' G:«-vi e r motion is to be studied, and the fertilisation insects of Spitsbergen—and much valuable geographical knowledge will be acquired. Tho Oxford Expedition will not be spectacular, but it is certain to produce a valuable accession to the world's stock of knowledge on many scientific matters.