PREFACE. 



THE volume of "Physical Observations" of the National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, under 

 C;i|itain It. F. SCOTT, R.N., which was published in the summer of 1908, included a report on one 

 portion of the Magnetic work. This Report consisted mainly of a reduction of the absolute and relative 

 observations by Commander L. W. P. CHETWYND, R.N. It contained, also, an account by Mr. HKKNAI nil 

 of the Observatory site in McMurdo Sound, of the geological features of the district, of the instruments 

 employed, and of other matters, likewise Tables of the Hourly Values of Declination, Horizontal Force 

 and Vertical Force on term-days at different observatories during 1902-1903, and a report by 

 Mr. R. C. MOSSMAN and Dr. CHREK on the Magnetic Observations of the "Scotia," under 

 Dr. W. S. BRUCE. 



The present volume, with its detailed Tables of Hourly Values and its exhaustive discussion of the 

 Observations, completes the presentation of the Magnetic work of the "Discovery." The Royal Sorietv, 

 in arranging for this investigation, was fortunate, with the sanction and co-operation of Dr. GLAZKI:I:<IMK, 

 F.R.S., Director of the National Physical Laboratory, in obtaining the invaluable services of Dr. CHAKI.KS 

 CHREE, F.R.S., of the Kew Observatory. His pre-eminent qualifications for the onerous task imposed 

 upon him, and the unwearied zeal with which he has prosecuted it to the end, give to this portion of the 

 Reports of the Expedition a special scientific interest and importance. 



Dr. CHREE has mentioned in his Historical Note (p. 5) the various Institutions and individuals who have 

 contributed their services towards the preparation of the materials of this volume. To all of them the 

 thanks of the Royal Society are due. Special allusion, however, should here be made to the assistance 

 generously given by Mr. BERNACCHI, who was in charge of the Magnetographs of the Expedition. Not 

 only has he taken a large share in the tabulation of the magnetic curves, but he has been always ready to 

 help during the preparation of this Report. A reference is also called for to the great zeal with which, as 

 Dr. CHREE has heartily acknowledged, the successive Directors of the Christchurch Observatory, New 

 Zealand, Dr. COLERIDGE FARR and Mr. H. F. SKEY, entered into the co-operative scheme of observations 

 suggested by the Royal Society, and to the interest and importance of the information which they were so 

 good as to transmit. Magnetic Stations in the Southern Hemisphere are so few in number that it was 

 particularly useful to obtain so ample a record of observations from Christchurch, which is the nearest 

 observatory to the Antarctic Winter Quarters of the " Discovery." 



From the map, which forms the frontispiece, it will be seen how closely the positions agree which have 

 been assigned by three successive recent expeditions to the South Magnetic Pole. The position found by 

 the "Southern Cross" was about Lat. 72 40' S., Long. 152 30' E. That obtained from the observations 

 of the "Discovery" was Lat. 72 51' S., Long. 156 25' E. ("Physical Observations" of National Antarctic 

 Expedition, 1908, p. 156). Lieutenant SHARK I.ETON has been so good as to furnish the exact position 

 found by him, which is Lat. 72 25' S., Long. 155 16' E. 



ARCH. CKIKIK. 



Royal Society, Burlington House, 

 Nth September, 1909. 



