CORRESPONDENCE. 



" Antarctic Exploration." 



With regard to the above article by Mr. Southwell, which appeared in the 

 February number of your valuable journal, may I be allowed to make the following 

 remarks ? 



(a.) Mr. Southwell says that my friend, Mr. Burn Murdoch, "accompanied the 

 ' Balaena ' by the kindness ©f Mr. Kinnis (sic), the owner (sic), and of Captain Fair- 

 weather " (p. 98). I must say I absolutely fail to see where the kindness came in, 

 seeing that Mr. Burn Murdoch paid his passage as any ordinary passenger would 

 have done on a systematic passenger boat. 



(/;.) Surely it is obvious that Mr. Burn Murdoch does not use the word 

 " varieties" (p. 99) as a scientific term. 



(c.) I still agree with Mr. Burn Murdoch when he says that science is meant 

 for all, not the few, and that we should call "a spade a spade, and not a bally 

 shovel " (p. 100). At the same time I fully appreciate the value of generic, specific, 

 and varietal nomenclature when it is used in the right place, time, and manner I 

 stand aghast when I find that, for sixteen species of earless seals, there are no less 

 than one hundred and three distinct specific and varietal names, eighty-seven being 

 synonyms, and fourteen species wholly indeterminable. Does specific nomen- 

 clature in this case have any distinct advantage over popular naming ? 



(d.) Mr. Burn Murdoch's question, " Is it not a hideous marvel that Dundonians 

 should show such splendid enterprise as to send four ships out here for whales, and 

 at the same time show a total disregard for the scientific possibilities of such a 

 cruise?" does not appear to me to be "singularly out of place," although Mr. 

 Burn Murdoch and myself had berths in the " Balaena" (p. 101). For it was on 

 the distinct supposition that opportunities for scientific research would be given 

 that I joined the "Balaena," and that the ship was supplied by the Royal 

 Geographical Society and Meteorological Office with a very valuable set of 

 instruments. 



(e.) With regard to Captain Fairweather's "ignorance" (p. 101), I shall say 

 nothing. Captain Fairweather is an experienced seaman, and it would be rather out 

 of place for a novice like myself to offer criticism ; but with regard to [the other 



matters mentioned] I believe that I am competent to judge I am glad to 



learn that Captain Fairweather presented, and did not sell, to the British Museum, 

 specimens which he obtained through no exertions of his own 



(/.) Mr. Southwell himself would, I fear, have experienced difficulty in rescuing 

 specimens, if serving under articles which made obedience compulsory, on board the 

 " Balaena " (p. 105). 



Gatehouse, Kirkcudbrightshire. William S. Bruce. 



February 21, 1895. 

 [Though we are very glad to print Mr. Bruce's letter, we have thought it 

 advisable to omit a few sentences from paragraph (c). From enquiries that we have 

 made, we gather that there is a very pretty quarrel between the naturalist and the 

 commander of the " Balaena." It is not for us to say who is in the right, but it 

 appears to be undeniable that the scientific work was prosecuted under greater diffi- 

 culties than usually accompany even a whaling expedition to polar seas. " Kinnis " 

 was, of course, a misprint for " Kinnes," the name of the managing owner of the 

 " Balaena." — Editor.] 



