358 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
two summers that we spent at Cape Royds, and on weed found under 
the ice there were living rotifers of several kinds. Other rotifers 
were found on weed melted out of solid ice. It seemed obvious that 
the microscopic animals were able to live at a temperature at least as 
low as 40° below zero Fahrenheit, and experiments verified this con- 
clusion. The animals were not killed by that temperature, though 
all the natural functions were suspended, including the bearing of 
young among the viviparous species. They were alternately frozen 
and thawed weekly for a long period, and took no harm. They were 
dried and frozen, thawed and moistened, and still they lived. They 
lived in brine so salt that it froze only at a temperature of about zero 
Fahrenheit, and many of them survived the test of being dried and 
placed in a bottle, which was then immersed in boiling water. Some 
of the weed carrying the animals was dried and conveyed to London, 
being subjected to tropical temperatures on the way. It was moist- 
ened in London, and the animals were found to be still living. They 
survived a final test of immersion in frozen gas at a temperature of 
—81° C. The whole subject is one of extraordinary interest to 
biologists, and the scientific memoirs of the expedition will embody 
the results of all Murray’s observations and experiments. 
Karly in the spring of 1908 we began to make arrangements for the 
sledging journeys. One party, led by myself, was to go south toward 
the geographical pole; Professor David was to take a second party 
north, and attempt to attain the south magnetic pole; and a third 
party was to undertake geological work in the mountains west of 
McMurdo Sound, with the special object of discovering fossils. The 
motor car had not proved a success. The petrol engine ran well, 
even at low minus temperatures, and on the sea ice the car could 
travel fast and far, but soft snow, such as was encountered on the 
Barrier surface, formed an effective bar to its progress. We had left 
New Zealand with ten ponies, imported from the sub-Arctic regions 
of northern Manchuria, and landed eight of the animals at Cape 
Royds in fairly good condition. 
Unfortunately, four were lost early in the winter, so that only four 
were left available for the sledging work. We had dogs, bred from 
the Eskimo dogs used by the Newnes-Borchgrevink Expedition, but 
after the experience of the Discovery Expedition I had little confi- 
dence in these animals. I pinned my faith on the ponies for the 
southern journey. Experiments showed that they could haul easily 
650 pounds each, this including the weight of the sledge (60 pounds), 
and that they traveled well on bad surfaces, thus realizing the hopes 
I had based on reports of their performances in their native country. 
I made a preliminary journey on to the Barrier before the return 
of the sun, taking with me Professor David and Armytage, in order 
to get an idea of the surface to be encountered. We experienced 
