honor of being the first to make the attempt. He says:

The whale-boat was backed in as

taken in depths varying from 1600 to 2700 fathoms. Samples of the bottom were found to consist of diatom ooze,

but just a fraction of a second too late; the boat had begun to fall with the swell, the take-off was bad, and instead of getting a firm footing, I fell down, down into the water literally swarming with sharks which had followed the boat up to the rocks. The men were pushing them off with oars and boat-hooks when I came up, luckily, right underneath the boat, and was hauled in by the scruff of the neck by Davidson ere the boat was dashed on the rocks by the succeeding rise, but it was a narrow squeak for all concerned."

The Falkland Islands, which were reached on the 6th January, reminded the gallant navigators of their own dear Scotland,-a feeling that was intensified when, on entering Port Stanley, they saw "the peat-heaps crowning the heights behind the town, and smelt the peat-reek mingled with the fresh odor of land!" A stay of three weeks was made in this far-distant English colony, during which time a series of magnetic observations was taken, coals and provisions were laid in, and all final arrangements made prior to their departure, for they realized this would be the last civilized port they would call at for many a long and weary day. Inclement weather was experienced after leaving the Falkland Islands, culminating in a gale of hurricane violence, which necessitated the ship being hove-to under reduced canvas, and oilbags were put overboard in order to assist in breaking the violence of the sea. In spite of these precautions, the weather-bulwarks were stove in, and the ship sustained other minor damages.

On the 30th January several icebergs were seen, most of them of the tabular form that is characteristic of Antarctic bergs. Constant soundings were

and other minerals. On the 2nd February the pack-ice was reached in lat. 60° 28′ S. and long. 43° 40′ W., becoming, as the ship made progress to the southward, more heavy and compact, necessitating great skill, and caution, in handling the ship. Two days later, Saddle Island, in the South Orkneys, was reached and visited by some members of the Expedition, who had the gratification of thus claiming to be the first people who had landed on the island since the visit of Dumont d'Urville in the French corvette Astrolabe in 1838. Here a large number of ringed penguins were seen, as well as many other birds indigenous to the locality, the island being a favorite resort for the birds in the breeding season.

Continuing their course to the southward, they experienced much difficulty in penetrating the pack, but patience and perseverance were eventually rewarded, for on the evening of the 18th they had the satisfaction of crossing the Antarctic circle with "all sails set and in a sea clear of ice." All went merrily for a couple of days, when they found the pack so cemented together by young ice of recent formation, that they were reluctantly compelled, in order to avoid the risk of being beset, to retrace their steps to the northward. They had then reached the latitude of 70° 25', being the most southern position attained that year. The days getting perceptibly shorter, and the nights increasing in length in a corresponding degree, combined with a marked fall of temperature, were sure indications of approaching winter, and it therefore behooved them to use every endeavor to find good and secure winter quarters for their ship, as speedily as possible. During the following six days, the pack was of such an impenetrable nature,

they only succeeded in advancing thirty miles in a northerly direction, although they covered a distance of about ten degrees to the west, by adopting, as their course, the line of least resistance from the ice. On the 11th March they recrossed the Antarctic Circle, and after some difficulty, and constant buffetings with the pack, they at length succeeded on the 25th in reaching a large bay on the south side of Laurie Island in the South Orkneys, which appeared to offer all the requisites and advantages of good winter quarters, and here they decided to pass the winter. No better place could have been selected, for in addition to its being a safe and well-protected anchorage, it also offered special advantages for the prosecution of scientific research, as we read

For meteorology the place was well adapted, on the verge of the winter ice-bound sea, and only some 800 miles from Cape Horn, two circumstances which made it a spot whence observations would be of great importance. Biologically, its position on the border of, and still within, the polar ice, promised collections of peculiar interest both in seals, birds, and marine fauna.

These promises were more than realized, and their most sanguine expectations fulfilled.

An exceedingly interesting description, although perhaps somewhat more rosy than the actual facts warranted, is given of their winter quarters; but we get a little insight into the true character of the place from one of the officers of the ship, who, in spite of the glowing eulogium recorded on the natural beauties of the island, stated with perfect candor and honesty, that, in his opinion,

the real use for the South Orkneys would be as a penal settlement. For that purpose they were almost ideal. In the summer the convicts would be

employed in house building, and in the winter he would keep them busy shovelling snow off the glaciers!

The writer of the chapter naïvely conIcludes it with the remark that "It," the officer's scheme, "is an excellent one, with much to commend it!"

The harbor in which they passed the winter was very appropriately named Scotia Bay.

Three days after their arrival the pack-ice, actuated by a strong and continuous southerly wind, drifted into the bay, and to such an extent as to cut the ship off from the open sea. A heavy fall of snow had the effect of solidifying the pack in which the Scotia was now completely imprisoned, and she remained held fast in its icy grip for the ensuing winter. This was a great disappointment to all concerned, for it was hoped, and expected, that climatic conditions, and the state of the ice, would not materially interfere with the carrying out of dredging and trawling operations from the ship under weigh, taking into consideration that the position of their winter quarters was more than 300 miles north of the Antarctic Circle. This hope-a very reasonable one-was not fulfilled, for the vessel remained inextricably fixed in the ice, from the early part of April until the following November. The winter passed pleasantly enough, and was spent in much the same way as is invariably experienced by the members of Polar expeditions. Their first object, of course, was to make the ship snug and secure, and as comfortable as circumstances would admit. The sails were unbent, upper spars and all top hamper sent down, boats lowered on to the ice-floe, the engines disconnected, the water pumped out of the boilers, and everything that human ingenuity, or experience, could suggest, was done before the long polar night set in and winter

A

seized them in its frozen grasp. regular routine of scientific investigations was immediately commenced. By an ingenious, but simple, contrivance dredging operations were frequently carried out, and with very important results, new animals being repeatedly brought to the surface, illustrating very conclusively the fact of the existence, to a very large degree, of marine fauna in Antarctic waters. "All was fish that came to their net!" nothing was overlooked or thrown away; even the apparent refuse in the dredge was carefully preserved, because it was more than likely to contain minute crustacea, and other marine organisms. Every one was kept busily employed; during the working hours there was not an idle man on board. Traps, somewhat resembling lobster-pots in their construction, were periodically set at a depth of from 20 to 50 fathoms. These were generally baited with the carcases of penguins, and they yielded valuable prizes, not only from a scientific point of view, but also as new and succulent additions to the daily fare of the members of the Expedition, for we are told that

Even the greed of the zoologist found satisfaction, and when the cook asked for a supply of fish for breakfast, the zoologist showed himself open to human temptation after all, and several days a-week we all committed the sacrilege of feeding on what was an animal new to science!

During the month of April thousands of penguins passed, flying northwards, and many alighted on the island. A great number were killed for food; their skins were also found useful for clothing, &c. The killing of these birds was only indulged in as a necessity, and was not regarded in the light of sport. We are informed that "the most depraved sportsman could find no sport" in the slaying of these

helpless and inoffensive birds killed by a murderous blow on the head with a club; and we are thoroughly in sympathy with the writer who tells us "it was sheer cold-blooded, unskilled murder, whose only excuse was that we were hungry, and needed fresh food to keep us alive and healthy." The killing of seals was also, very properly, regarded in the same light. A careful study of the geological formation of the islands was carried out by Dr. Pirie, who, in spite of many difficulties with which he had to contend, was rewarded by the discovery of interesting fossiliferous impressions and petrifactions in the rocks in the neighborhood of Cape Dundas.

The flora of Antarctic lands is limited to only a few lichens and mosses, and therefore botanical research did not yield any valuable results, in spite of the diligence and energy of the botanist, Mr. Brown. The magnetic and meteorological observations were carefully and systematically carried out during the winter, under the direction of Mr. Mossman, ably assisted by other members of the staff. Tidal measurements were duly recorded, and a survey of the islands, including the adjacent group called Murray Islands, was undertaken during the spring.

On the whole, a pleasant winter was passed. Thanks to the kindness of various publishers at home, they were provided with a good supply of books, sufficient, we are told, to afford them reading occupation for "several years!" They lived in a little world of their own, absolutely indifferent as to what might be occurring at home or in other countries, ignorant of international intrigue, and regardless of wars or political disturbances. Although they lived in the utmost harmony one with the other, they were not sorry, occasionally, to be employed on some duty or work that necessitated a little

solitude. Not, we are carefully informed, because

we are tired of our fellow-creatures, for we all lived on the most amicable of terms, but the occasional solitude which every one requires was seldom obtainable in life in so small a ship as the Scotia. We were practically always in sight and hearing of one another.

They went so far as to look upon their inability to escape from the presence of their shipmates as one of the greatest hardships they had to endure! With the exception of one or two American expeditions to the Arctic seas, this so-called "hardship" does not seem to have been experienced by the generality of polar explorers.

In consequence of the intention to leave a small party on the island on the departure of the Scotia the following summer, so as to continue without interruption the scientific observations made during the winter, and to render them more complete and therefore more valuable, it became necessary to construct some sort of habitation in which those left on the island could be accommodated. Fortunately an ample supply of stones lay ready for their use, and by utilizing these they were able to build a stone house some 14 ft. square. The services of every member of the Expedition were called into requisition in the construction of this building. The walls were no less than 4 to 5 ft. thick, so as to "ensure safety and permanence," and these were supported by buttresses at each corner. The roof was a very serious consideration, for they were not provided with a plentiful supply of timber. The difficulty was, however, solved by scraping together various scraps of wood derived from empty boxes and packing-cases, and dovetailing them all together, with which, with the exercise of considerable ingenuity, they contrived to make a fairly efficient

roof. The house, when completed, only contained one room, a little over 14 feet square, and from 6 to 8 feet high. It had a small, narrow entrance, and two equally small windows. The floor was made from one of the hatches of the ship, and the furniture was improvised from old packing-cases! It proved a most serviceable, we will not say comfortable, edifice, and the designers and builders were both pleased and proud of the result of the architectural skill and work displayed in its construction. It was called Omond House, in honor of Mr. R. T. Omond, a gentleman who had always taken the keenest interest in the Expedition.

Another building, in close proximity to Omond House, to be used as a store-house and coal-shed, was also erected, the walls being composed of filled biscuit-boxes, which being all alike in pattern and dimensions were easy to work with! An old whaleboat, which had been condemned by the Captain as unseaworthy, formed the roof of this building! On the 1st of November all the meteorological and other instruments were transferred from the ship to the places prepared for them adjacent to the house, and the hourly observations, hitherto taken on board the Scotia, were from that date recorded from the new position.

The weather during the winter was not altogether all that might be desired May and June being especially stormy months, with heavy falls of

of wind, were very trying. Sometimes a rise, or a fall, of 40° of temperature would occur in a few hours, which had the effect of making the lower temperature appear to be far colder, and the higher far warmer, than they really were. It is a curious fact that the highest temperature recorded during the time the Scotia was in the Antarctic Regions was at their winter quarters on the 31st May, only three weeks before the shortest day in the year, and, consequently, mid-winter. On this occasion the thermometer registered as high as 46° .8. This abnormal condition of the temperature was, in all probability, due to a Föhn wind that was blowing from the N. W.-a purely local phenomenon caused by the wind being forced down from a high altitude, thus becoming compressed, and consequently warmed. In the spring, sledging expeditions were organized, when some valuable geological information was obtained and some useful surveying work was accomplished, but little of geographical interest was achieved.

Towards the end of August the seals began to collect in large numbers for breeding purposes. They were at that particular time most aggressive, and offered a strong contrast to the lazy, inoffensive animals that were met with in the autumn. On the approach of any one, they became at once alert and ferocious, and if any attempt was made to capture their young, the parent would rush forward and snap viciously at the intruder. Attempts were made to rear some of the young seals on board the ship, but with no success, for although carefully tended, and fed with preserved milk sucked through an indiarubber tube, they invariably died after being in captivity a few days.

Another great event at about the same time was the return of the penguins, which not only gave life and

animation to their hitherto dreary surroundings, but was the cause of a very welcome addition to their daily fare in the shape of meat and eggs. Of the latter, the men would collect several thousands in the course of an afternoon, some of which were stowed in barrels for immediate use, while the remainder were packed in salt, and preserved for a future day. They were looked upon as a great luxury by the men, who certainly indulged to a very large extent in their consumption, for we are informed that whether they were boiled, fried, cooked, or raw, in omelettes or scrambled, they would consume on an average as many as fifteen per man per diem! A very interesting description of the habits of the penguins, especially during the pairing and breeding season, is given by Mr. Brown. Their lovemaking is thus described:

As soon as the birds arrive at their rookeries, the mates are chosen, and this involves much display and showing off on the part of the male. He stands erect, drawing himself up to his full height, with head thrown back and neck craned upwards, then he slowly and impressively waves his flippers several times and emits a long loud cackle; this over, he resumes his normal somewhat squat position, and looks around him to see what impression his charms and powers have had on the onlooking females. This process repeated a few times generally results in a couple being paired off, and nest-building then begins. Another very favorite demonstration of affection on the part of a couple is like this: the two stand facing one another, and stretching forward cross their beaks, and then proceed to sway from side to side in unison, uttering the while a shrill harsh cry.

On the 6th of August a gloom was cast over the little community by the death of their engineer, Mr. Ramsay, who for some time had been suffering from heart-disease, and who passed