2/2 THE BORDERLAND OF SCIENCE. 



are going to stations which, as seen from the sun at 

 the time, would seem to be at the very top of our ter- 

 restrial house but they are not going to occupy the 

 lowest rooms. . They will go no nearer than Kerguelen 

 Land if so near ; for, by an unfortunate mistake, it 

 was announced several years ago that in 1874 it would 

 be useless, owing to certain effects depending on the 

 earth's rotation, to visit any Antarctic stations ; and, as 

 a matter of fact, Antarctic voyages were deferred until 

 the approach of the transit of 1882, when it was sup- 

 posed that the circumstances would be more suitable. 

 Three years ago geographers and Arctic seamen were 

 invited to prepare for voyages in anticipation of the 

 latter transit (for it will be understood that several 

 years are required for suitable preparations), when, to 

 the astonishment of the astronomical world, it was dis- 

 covered, that whereas observations at Antarctic stations 

 in 1874 would have been highly advantageous, such 

 observations in 1882 would scarcely have the slightest 

 chance of success. The preparations, therefore, for 

 observing the latter transit were countermanded ; but 

 though the discovery came in good time to save Eng- 

 land from the discredit of undertaking dangerous ex- 

 peditions on the strength of erroneous calculations, it 

 was too late for utilising Antarctic stations during the 

 transit of 1874. 



Nevertheless a considerable amount of scientific in- 

 terest attaches to Antarctic exploration, especially since 

 it has been decided that a Government expedition shall 

 devote some of its energies to researches upon the 



