DISCOVERIES AND SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITIONS. From Viking times to the present day the Norwegians have been travelling discoverers and traders. The fitting out of expeditions for the discovery of new land, fresh whaling and sealing grounds, or for the capture of new markets has always been in the blood of the enterprising Norwegians. As far back as the Middle Ages they navigated the coasts of the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe, discovered Greenland, America, and Svalbard. The work done by Norwe- gians in the Arctic attracted the attention of other nations to these regions and led to their sending out expeditions and making discoveries. It was, however, in the 19th and 20th centurics that the more scientific expeditions and voyages of exploration were undertaken by Norwegians. In 1827 Professor Keilhau set out on a voyage of scientific exploration to Svalbard. In the following decades Norwegian sealers considerably increased our knowledge of the Arctic waters and islands. In 1876-78 Professors H. Mohn and G. O. Sars fitted out an expedition for scientific exploration in the Arctic. At the same time other smaller Norwegian 196