Evening star., 1940-01-28
Biological Society
Explores Labrador
With Dr.. 0'Nei|I
CothoIic U. Expedition
Member Describes
Study Of FIoro

The Biological Society of Wash
ington explored the bleak East
Coast of Labrador last night
through the medium Of an illus
trated lecture by the Rev DR.. Hugh
O'Neill, member of q Catholic Uni
versity expedition which last sum-
mer journeyed to Eastern Canadian
Arctic regions.
In a 70-foot schooner built in
Nova Scotia, DR.. O,Neill, four other
scientists and a seven-man crew
sailed along the West Coast Of New
foundland and through the Straits
OF Belle Isle to the barren Labrador
Coast.
The object of the cruise was to
study the fora of the polar region
and to find the southern limit of
Arctic hora. 1t was the first ex-
pedition for Father ONeill and the
Rev. Maximilian Duman, o. S. B.,
graduate student In the field of
botany at Catholic University. But
for the Rev Arthene Dutilly, re-
search professor of botany, and for
DR.. F. Gardner of the University of
Montreal, 1t was the seventh.
Covered 1000 Miles.
The cruise covered 1000 miles, and
yielded $1,000 specimens to the
scientists. Father Dutilly was
commissioned by the late Pope
Pitus XII to- collect botanical
and geological specimens and
Eskimo artifacts for the Lateran
Museum. He assemblies them at
Catholic University, and has pre-
sented surplus specimens to the uni
versity and to the National Museum.
Soil is almost completely lacking
on Labrador's East Coast, Father
ONeill said, and mountains of more
than 5000 feet in height range the
peninsula's edge. On the west side.
washed by Hudson Bay, the land is
less rugged.
Father O'Neill called attention to
the overlapping of vegetation found
in northern and southern ATTITUDES.
Tropical plants are found on the
northern edge of tropical areas, and
Arctic flora are found growing
far to the south. He pointed out
that Americans could 60 in few
hours to Florida and see tropical
plants. but could not get to the
area where polar plants are to be
seen without journey of many
days-even though the distance
north is approximately the same
number of miles as the distance to
the south.
No Transportation.
There are no transportation con-
veniences in Labrador, Father
O'Neill said; no cars. no roads. nor
even any horses. Travel in winter
is by dog sled, in summer by walk
ing or by boat along the coast. Con-
sequently, he explained. the interior
of Labrador is little known.
Father ONeill said the expedition
found the Eskimo natives of the
country as interesting as the fora
which they had come to investi-
gate. Not the least interesting OF
their habits, was their diet of raw
meat and their eagerneSS to, eat
raw fish without going through the
formality of cleaning it.
| Father ONeiu called the Eskimo
the best adapted race Of mankind
to an4 environment-theja 0oud
exist % bare rock id TIE xexs'
As an example of their language
he explained that the Eskimo equiv
alent OF the English words safety
match" translate into something
to light with that needs its mother" !"
w. B. Bell, president of the So
ciety, presided at the meeting held
at the Cosmos Club Ernest p.
Walker spoke on Eyes That Shine
at Night" illustrating his talk with
slides, in color, showing varieties
Of "eye-shine" to be seen when light
reflects from the eyes of mammals.
DR.. Frank Thone, reviewed several
books briefly for members.