9] ON THE FLOES 203 



Went out to the outer berg, where there was quite a col- 

 lection of people, mostly in connection with Ponting, who had 

 brought camera and flashlight. 



It was beautifully calm and comparatively warm. It was 

 good to hear the gay chatter and laughter, and see ponies and 

 their leaders come up out of the gloom to add liveliness to the 

 scene. The sky was extraordinarily clear at noon and to the 

 north very bright. 



We have had an exceptionally large tidal range during the 

 last three days it has upset the tide gauge arrangements and 

 brought a little doubt on the method. Day is going into the 

 question, which we thoroughly discussed to-day. Tidal measure- 

 ments will be worse than useless unless we can be sure of the 

 accuracy of our methods. Pools of salt water have formed over 

 the beach floes in consequence of the high tide, and in the chase 

 of the crab eater to-day very brilliant flashes of phosphorescent 

 light appeared in these pools. We think it due to a small cope- 

 pod. I have just found a reference to the same phenomena 

 in Nordenskiold's ' Vega.' He, and apparently Bellot before 

 him, noted the phenomenon. An interesting instance of bi- 

 polarity. 



Another interesting phenomenon observed to-day was a cirrus 

 cloud lit by sunlight. It was seen by Wilson and Bowers 5 

 above the northern horizon the sun is 9 below our horizon, 

 and without refraction we calculate a cloud could be seen which 

 was 12 miles high. Allowing refraction the phenomenon appears 

 very possible. 



Wednesday, May 31. The sky was overcast this morning 

 and the temperature up to - 13 . Went out after lunch to 

 4 Land's End.' The surface of snow was sticky for ski, except 

 where drifts were deep. There was an oppressive feel in the 

 air and I got very hot, coming in with head and hands bare. 



At 5, from dead calm the wind suddenly sprang up from 

 the south, force 40 miles per hour, and since that it has been 

 blowing a blizzard; wind very gusty, from 20 to 60 miles. I 

 have never known a storm come on so suddenly, and it shows 

 what possibility there is of individuals becoming lost even if they 

 only go a short way from the hut. 



To-night Wilson has given us a very interesting lecture on 

 sketching. He started by explaining his methods of rough 



