afford as good and cheap living as many other provinces of the Russian empire. To most readers, it is probable, this will seem no very mighty recommendation. Relatively, however, to the person who makes it, and to those to whom it is addressed, it must be allowed to possess a virtue of no common magnitude or efficacy. Perhaps it is necessary to state for the credit of this writer, that some of the immediately following remarks of Captain King, much as they seem at first sight to oppose one of his opinions above approved of, will be found on attentive consideration perfectly reconcileable with them, more particularly if it be remembered that in other countries where much snow falls during the winter, nothing is more usual than to find, on its disappearance, that the earth is covered with a rich and healthy vegetation which a thick coating of that substance, known to be a bad conductor of heat, had preserved from the rigors of the season.--E. [44] Krascheninnikoff says, that the tree here spoken of is a dwarf cedar, for that there is not a pine in the peninsula. [45] Krascheninnikoff says, that the natives likewise convert the bark into a pleasant wholesome food, by stripping it off whilst it is young and green, and cutting it into long narrow stripes, like _vermicelli_, drying it, and stewing it afterward along with their _caviar_. [46] Gmelin, p. 41. Steller enumerates five different species of this plant. [47] Lonicera pedunclis bifloris, floribus infundibili formis, baccia solitaria, oblonga, angulosa. Gmel. Flor. Sib. [48] Myrtillus grandis caeruleus. [49] Epilobium. [50] Chaerephyllum seminibus levibus. [51] Tradescantia fructu molli edulo. [52] Bistorta foliis ovatis, oblongis, acuminatis. [53] Jacobea foliis cannabis. Steller. [54] Anemonoides et ranunculus. [55] Gmel. Sib. Tom. i. p. 119. Tab. XXV. [56] Canis vulpes. [57] Mustela zibellina. [58] Rivers emptying themselves into the Lena, near its source. [59] Canis lagopus. [60] Lepus timidus. [61] Mus citellus. [62] Mustela erminea. [63] Mustela nivalis. [64] Ursus luseus. [65] Krascheninnikoff relates, that this small animal frequently destroys deer, and the wild mountain sheep, in the following way: They scatter at the bottom of trees bark and moss, which those animals are fond of; and whilst they are picking it up, drop suddenly upon them, and, fastening behind the head, suck out their eyes. [66] The Koriacks make use of a very simple method of catching bears. They suspend, between the forks of a tree, a running noose; within which they fasten a bait, which the animal, endeavouring to pull away, is caught sometimes by the neck, and sometimes by the paw. [67] Capra ammon, or wild sheep. Arct, Zool. i. p. 12. [68] Mr Steller has made the following scale of its cry: [Illustration: F-A- C |F-A- C a-an-gitche a-an-gitche. ]