124 RETURN OF THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



well-defined rings, guarding the Pole, or acting as beautiful 

 signals whereby almost to fix the latitudes roughly. Thus 

 the albatrosses stop at 55° S., and white-bellied petrels take 

 their place; but these, again, do not leave the dreaded pack 

 through which all ships have to pass on the way to the inner 

 open water. So the ice pack and the white-bellied petrel give 

 way simultaneously to the black-bellied petrel, who 

 conducts voyagers to the regions of the snowy petrel, 

 which delights apparently in perpetual frost. Such facts (if 

 they are facts) add romance to the mysterious Antarctic, and 

 we long to know whether we may now add to our knowledge. 

 It was Mr. Hansen's department. 



I think that Mr. Borchgrevink may at least tell us by an 

 imperceptible wave of the hand, or some slight motion, 

 whether he has settled the question of the " right whale." 

 Ross said he saw plenty. The Antarctic saw none. What 

 is the truth? And if thev again sawonmanv seals Ions: and 

 deep scars in parallel lines. Is it the shark which is respon- 

 sible ? If the Royal Society cannot elicit for your benefit 

 answers to any of these questions, then we feel we really may 

 ask for something to make up for our disappointment. That 

 something is this — that when Mr. Borchgrevink unpacks his 

 collections at home be will ask Sir George Newnes to grant 

 us a few specimens. I have no doubt Mr. Morton's patriotic 

 rapacity will do all that is possible. Ladies and gentlemen, 

 the Royal Society at this sj)lendid meeting desires to exclaim, 

 in company with you all, " Well done, Southern Cross." 



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