176 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



like bays, running into the land or cliffs, bringing the continental ice to the sea. South- 

 wards the continental ice sloped gently upwards to an even skyline at a height of about 

 2000 ft., and although visibility was excellent no distant mountains except Stanley Kemp 

 Peak were seen to break this horizon. 



Westwards of this stretch of land the coast took an abrupt turn, now running almost 

 north-north-eastwards with snow slopes coming down to the sea without visible out- 

 crops; in this way a deep funnel-shaped bay, which seemed to run far into the land, 

 was formed. This gulf apparently terminated in an ice barrier, and beyond it, at a very 

 great distance in a south-westerly direction, could be seen a prominent peak (George 

 Rayner Peak), possibly the northern end of a mountain range, for beyond it other peaks 

 could be discerned. Between this peak and the barrier at the head of the gulf the (pre- 

 sumably) ice-covered land was low and flat, reaching to the horizon. On the north side 

 of the gulf ice-covered foothills rose inland to a mountain range running almost east and 

 west and culminating when about 50 miles from the coast in peaks possibly ranging 

 up to 6000 ft. in height ; these may be Borchgrevink's Akerfjellene. From a cape in about 

 66° 34' S, 57 34' E the coast-line turned north-westwards to Cape Davis and inland 

 from this could be seen foothills terminating Mawson's Nicholas Range. Icebergs and 

 pack-ice were encountered along this coast, which was now left for the search of whales 

 in the open ocean. 



SCULLIN MONOLITH 



Scullin Monolith is a crescent-shaped massif rising to 1200 ft. or more and enclosing 

 a north-facing cove whose entrance is about ih miles across. The upper parts are 

 everywhere precipitous, but the lower 200-300 ft. slope steeply in many parts and are 

 strewn with boulders and large stones, among which lodges a coarse loose grit weathered 

 from the country rock. Elsewhere scree slopes occupy the lower parts or the rock face 

 falls sheer to the sea. Very little snow was to be seen resting on this seaward face at the 

 time of this visit. 



The landing was made near the eastern tip of the crescent and about three hours were 

 spent ashore. The part of the massif examined consists of warm reddish brown gneiss 

 containing many small garnets. For the most part, and on all the higher surfaces, the 

 rock has weathered with a sound even surface, but along some of the lower ridges the 

 rock is decayed and rotten. Near sea level dark-coloured finer textured rock was found 

 in dyke-like formation. 



An ascent to a height of 700-800 ft. was made and it could be seen that the south- 

 eastern face of the massif is wholly precipitous, falling sheer to the continental ice, 

 which breaks against it in a very heavily crevassed condition. 



The rock is a nesting-place for many of the Antarctic birds. Over the lower slopes 

 of the area examined Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) seemed to occupy every 

 obtainable stance. At the time of this visit the young were fully grown and undergoing 

 their last moult, but judging by the remains strewn everywhere the rate of mortality in 

 this rookery is very high. Skua gulls (Catharacta skua) were present and a sea leopard 



