THE TERRA NOVA GOES SOUTH 75 



for the diatoms to thaw out, are the smallest marine animals, 

 of which the infusoria give rise to the phosphorescence seen 

 in many seas, and the foraminifera to that beautiful calcareous 

 deposit known to every one by the euphonious title of " glo- 

 bigerina ooze." Feeding on these are animals of a much 

 higher order (crustacea, in fact, allied to shrimps), and known 

 as Copepods and Schizopods. Commonest of all is the large 

 schizopod Euphausia. 



These fellows are so big that we can see them swimming 

 around the floes. They may grow to a length of two inches, 

 and but for their split feet — each branching into two, as the 

 name Schizopod suggests — look very like pale shrimps. They 

 are the mainstay of the better-known animals — the penguins, 

 seals, and whales. Ever ready to attack the three latter is the 

 killer whale, a ferocious dolphin, which drives the seals and 

 penguins to take refuge on the floes. Here they fall easy 

 victims to man, for they have not yet learnt to expect any 

 enemy except in the water. Since the killers are credited with 

 attempts to shake some of Shackleton's men off" a floe into the 

 water, it appears as if homo sapiens would be relished by these 

 same shark-like mammals. Undoubtedly, if man reigns on 

 land Orca gladiator is lord of the Antarctic seas. 



Towards the southern limits of the pack the " iceberg 

 watch " was not very strenuous, and I fear me I played truant 

 at frequent intervals. One expedition down to the cosy 

 engine-room resulted in a glorious hot bath, which is quite 

 sufficiently a rarity to be chronicled. The second engineer 

 warmed a bucket of water by the Fijian method of dropping a 

 red-hot lump of fire-bar therein. This quiet officer was he 

 who probably experienced the most thrilling moment in 

 Antarctica. With Petty Officer Evans he accompanied Scott 

 on his western expedition, and on the Ferrar Glacier saw his 

 two companions disappear together in a bottomless crevasse. 

 Captain Scott has told how he managed to climb up the trace, but 

 I can imagine Lashley's despair as he grimly held back the 

 sledge, and thought of the dreadful solitary march that most 

 probably confronted him. Evans also has returned to his old 

 leader's flag, and is in charge of the transport material. 

 Cheetham and Paton have made five voyages already across 

 the seas, though I do not anticipate that they will join the shore 

 party. With the Eastern Expedition (to King Edward the 



