70 SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION [January 



with their wings as they pass. At first it is alarming, but ex- 

 perience shows that they never strike except with their wings. 

 A skua is nesting on a rock between the ponies and the dogs. 

 People pass every few minutes within a pace or two, yet the 

 old bird has not deserted its chick. In fact, it seems gradually 

 to be getting confidence, for it no longer attempts^ to swoop at 

 the intruder. To-day Ponting went within a few feet, and by 

 dint of patience managed to get some wonderful cinematograph 

 pictures of its movements in feeding and tending its chick, as 

 well as some photographs of these events at critical times. 



The main channel for thaw water at Cape Evans is now 

 quite a rushing stream. 



Evans, Pennell, and Rennick have got sight for meridian 

 distance; we ought to get a good longitude fix. 



Saturday, January 7. — The sun has returned. To-day it 

 seemed better than ever and the glare was blinding. There are 

 quite a number of cases of snow blindness. 



We have done splendidly. To-night all the provisions ex- 

 cept some m bottles are ashore and nearly all the working 

 paraphernalia of the scientific people — no light item. There 

 remains some hut furniture, ijA tons of carbide, some bottled 

 stuff, and some odds and ends which should occupy only part 

 of to-morrow; then we come to the two last and heaviest items 

 — coal and horse fodder. 



If we are not through in the week we shall be very near it. 

 Meanwhile the ship is able to lay at the ice edge without steam; 

 a splendid saving. 



There has been a steady stream of cases passing along the 

 shore route all day and transport arrangements are hourly 

 improving. 



Two parties of four and three officers made ten journeys 

 each, covering over 25 miles and dragging loads one way which 

 averaged 250 to 300 lbs. per man. 



The ponies are working well now, but beginning to give some 

 excitement. On the whole they are fairly quiet beasts, but they 

 get restive with their loads, mainly but indirectly owing to 

 the smoothness of the ice. They know perfectly well that the 

 swingle trees and traces are hanging about their hocks and hate 

 it. (I imagine it gives them the nervous feeling that they 

 are going to be carried off their feet.) This makes it hard 



