I9II] A BACTERIUM IN THE SNOW 187 



There has been astonishingly little drift with the wind, 

 probably due to the fact that there has been so very little 

 snowfall of late. 



Atkinson is pretty certain that he has isolated a very motile 

 bacterium in the snow. It is probably air borne, and though 

 no bacteria have been found in the air, this may be carried 

 in upper currents and brought down by the snow. If correct 

 it is an interesting discovery. 



To-night Debenham gave a geological lecture. It was ele- 

 mentary. He gave little more than the rough origin and classi- 

 fication of rocks with a view to making his further lectures better 

 understood. 



Saturday, May 13. — The wind dropped about 10 last night. 

 This morning it was calm and clear save for a light misty veil 

 of ice crystals through which the moon shone with scarce clouded 

 brilliancy, surrounded with bright cruciform halo and white 

 paraselene. Mock moons with prismatic patches of colour ap- 

 peared in the radiant ring, echoes of the main source of light. 

 Wilson has a charming sketch of the phenomenon. 



I went to Inaccessible Island, and climbing some way up 

 the steep western face, reassured myself concerning the ice. It 

 was evident that there had been no movement in consequence 

 of yesterday's blow. 



In climbing I had to scramble up some pretty steep rock 

 faces and screens, and held on only in anticipation of gaining 

 the top of the Island and an easy descent. Instead of this I 

 came to an impossible overhanging cliff of lava, and was forced 

 to descend as I had come up. It was no easy task, and I was 

 glad to get down with only one slip, when I brought myself 

 up with my ice axe in the nick of time to prevent a fall over 

 a cliff. This Island is very steep on all sides. There is only 

 one known place of ascent; it will be interesting to try and find 

 others. 



After tea Atkinson came in with the glad tidings that the 

 dog team were returning from Hut Point. We were soon on 

 the floe to welcome the last remnant of our wintering party. 

 Meares reported everything well and the ponies not far behind. 



The dogs were unharnessed and tied up to the chains; they 

 are all looking remarkably fit — apparently they have given no 

 trouble at all of late; there have not even been any fights. 



