19X1] THE ROOKERY AT CAPE CROZIER 251 



It took the best part of a fortnight to cross the coldest region, 

 and then rounding C. Mackay they entered the wind-swept area. 

 Blizzard followed blizzard, the sky was constantly overcast and 

 they staggered on in a light which was little better than complete 

 darkness; sometimes they found themselves high on the slopes 

 of Terror on the left of their track, and sometimes diving into 

 the pressure ridges on the right amidst crevasses and confused 

 ice disturbance. Reaching the foothills near C. Crozier, they 

 ascended 800 feet, then packed their belongings over a moraine 

 ridge and started to build a hut. It took three days to build 

 the stone walls and complete the roof with the canvas brought 

 for the purpose. Then at last they could attend to the object 

 of the journey. 



The scant twilight at midday was so short that they must 

 start in the dark and be prepared for the risk of missing their 

 way in returning without light. On the first day in which they 

 set forth under these conditions it took them two hours to reach 

 the pressure ridges, and to clamber over them roped together 

 occupied nearly the same time ; finally they reached a place above 

 the rookery where they could hear the birds squawking, but 

 from which they were quite unable to find a way down. The 

 poor light was failing and they returned to camp. Starting 

 again on the following day they wound their way through 

 frightful ice disturbances under the high basalt cliffs; in places 

 the rock overhung, and at one spot they had to creep through 

 a small channel hollowed in the ice. At last they reached the 

 sea ice, but now the light was so far spent they were obliged 

 to rush everything. Instead of the 2000 or 3000 nesting birds 

 which had been seen here in Discovery days, they could now only 

 count about 100; they hastily killed and skinned three to get 

 blubber for their stove, and collecting six eggs, three of which 

 alone survived, they dashed for camp. 



It is possible the birds are deserting this rookery, but it is 

 also possible that this early date found only a small minority of 

 the birds which will be collected at a later one. The eggs, which 

 have not yet been examined, should throw light on this point. 

 Wilson observed yet another proof of the strength of the nurs- 

 ing instinct in these birds. In searching for eggs both he and 

 Bowers picked up rounded pieces of ice which these ridiculous 

 creatures had been cherishing with fond hope. 



