I903] EMPEROR PENGUIN CHICKS 157 



the icy foot in contact with their bodies for nearly ten minutes, 

 but at the end of that time they had to hand it on to the next 

 member of the party ; they own that it was not a pleasing sen- 

 sation, but think that it increased their appetites. However, 

 their ministrations have brought Joyce safely back to the ship 

 with his full allowance of toes, which is the main point. 



' Royds and his party also had very low temperatures, as 

 their thermometer often showed —60°, and at the lowest —62°. 

 Blissett was the chief sufferer on this journey, as he also had 

 his face very severely frost-bitten ; the rest seem to have stood 

 it well, and Whitfield is described as standing outside the tent 

 with his pipe in his mouth, his hands in his pockets, and the 

 air of cheerful satisfaction of one who contemplates his garden 

 on a warm summer day at home. 



* This party have had a great stroke of luck. On arriving 

 at Cape Crozier it was found, in spite of calculations, that the 

 Emperors had already hatched out their young ; about a 

 thousand adult birds were seen, and a good number of 

 chicks, but at first there appeared to be no eggs. The 

 luck came when the travellers examined the ice towards 

 the land and found that there had been a recent fall of ice- 

 blocks ; close to this they discovered a number of deserted 

 eggs. It seems evident that the avalanche frightened away the 

 sitting birds, much to the benefit of our collection. Including 

 the single find of last year we have now seventeen specimens 

 of this new egg ; some are cracked, but a good number are 

 whole ; they weigh about a pound apiece. 



' As may be imagined, the party were highly elated with 

 this find, and Wilson was glad of the opportunity of studying 

 the chicks at a more tender age than they were seen last year. 

 In spite of the severe temperature, Cross determined to try to 

 bring two of these small mites home. He sacrificed his 

 sleeping-jacket to keep them warm, and tended them with 

 such motherly care that he has succeeded in his design, and 

 now these small creatures are housed in Wilson's cabin, much 

 to our amusement. They chirrup like overgrown chickens, 

 and possess the most prodigious appetites.' 



