MACROBERTSON LAND AND KEMP LAND 177 



(Hydrurga leptonyx) was swimming about the rocks below. The upper crags held the 

 nesting sites of Silver Grey (Priocella antarctica), Antarctic (Thallassoica antarctica) 

 and Snow Petrels (Pagodroma nivea) and possibly of the Wilson Petrel (Oceanites 

 oceanicus). Nests of the Silver Grey and Antarctic Petrels were situated on the higher 

 ledges and contained nestlings ; the young of the Antarctic Petrel were almost ready to 

 leave the nest, but those of the Silver Grey were only half fledged and still covered with 

 down. 



BERTHA ISLAND 

 This island was first thought to be part of the mainland, but after landing it was 

 found to be separated from the mainland by a narrow channel varying in width from 

 100 yds. to I mile, and at the time frozen over for much of its length. Beyond it the 

 continental ice sloped down to sea level between two rocky headlands. The main features 

 of this district follow the cardinal points of the compass and the island exhibits the 

 same orientation, its long axis, in length about 3 miles, extending roughly east and west. 

 It may be described as consisting of a series of ridges, running roughly north and south, 

 normal to the long axis of the island, between valleys connected by saddles running 

 east and west beneath rounded rocky eminences. The island is low to the east, where 

 the landing was made, whence it rises steadily ridge by ridge to about 400 ft. at the 

 western end, there falling sharply to the sea. 



The rock of the island is lightish brown in hue, fine grained and gneiss-like, containing 

 many intrusions of a darker rock varying in width from a few inches to several feet. 

 A most striking feature was the extraordinary wealth of garnets contained in both rocks 

 and weathered out into the sands and grits which occurred extensively. The manner 

 in which these rocks have weathered was interesting and remarkable. Some of the rocks 

 show a normal form of exfoliation, but the greater part exhibits the effect of extreme 

 wind erosion, the rock surface being etched and pitted into a honeycomb structure. In 

 places this erosion is carried to an extreme degree, the holes formed extending in depth 

 to a full arm's length or cutting the rock into grotesque and fantastic shapes, whilst 

 boulders were seen consisting merely of a thin fretted shell. 



The island was remarkably free of snow ; only a few isolated patches, not older than 

 the previous winter, were encountered. In favoured positions on the northern slopes 

 patches of moss were to be found. Specimens collected have been identified by Mr H. N. 

 Dixon as Bryum antarcticum Hook, f . et Wils., a species widely distributed in the Antarctic, 

 but not extending into the sub- Antarctic islands. Mr Dixon writes: "The specimen 

 is of considerable interest as it shows a considerable transition between two or three 

 forms, and confirms my suggestion {Australian Antarctic Expedition, Sci. Rep. Ser. C, 

 vol. vi'i, pt. 1, p. 7) that several of the antarctic plants described as species are but forms 



of this variable one." 



Pools of fresh water existed in the hollows among the hills and had been more extensive 

 and numerous. They were frozen over at the time of the visit, but in one considerable 

 vegetation could be seen through the clear ice. Some of this was collected and it is 



