PEEFACE. 



The expedition of the ' Southern Cross ' was fitted out by Sir George 

 Newnes, Bart., in 1898. Everything that experience could suggest 

 for an Antarctic Expedition was amply provided for by him, and 

 it is certain that he spared no expense to render it successful. 



The scientific staff on board the ' Southern Cross ' appears to have 

 been well chosen, Mr. Nicolai Hanson, the Zoologist, was an 

 indefatigable collector and taxidermist, and Mr. Hugh Evans was an 

 excellent Assistant-zoologist. They were supported by Lieut. 

 Colbeck, Mr. Louis Bernacchi, Dr. Klovstad as the surgeon, and 

 Mr. Anton Fougner; Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink was in command of 

 the expedition. 



The 'Southern Cross' sailed from the Thames on the 22nd of 

 August, 1898, touched at Madeira and St. Vincent, and reached 

 Hobart Town on the 28th of November. After a fortnight spent in 

 Tasmania, the ship sailed for Victoria Land on the 17th of December, 

 and met with the first of the ice-pack on the 30th of the same month. 

 The initial attempt to reach Victoria Land was not successful, 

 and the result was that the ' Southern Cross ' was hemmed in in the 

 ice-pack for forty days, and was at last headed northwards and 

 returned for a second attempt to penetrate to Cape Adare, the 

 future winter residence of the landing-party. The open sea was 

 once more attained on the 10th of February, aud on the 14th the 

 ' Southern Cross ' successfully passed through the ice-pack in six 

 hours. 



During the time that the ship was shut up in the ice-pack, 

 Mr. Hanson made large collections of the Seals and Birds, and the 

 natural history notes recorded by him in his private diary are 

 published in the present volume, by permission of his widow. 

 Before starting on the voyage, Mr. Hanson spent some weeks at the 



