138 THE VOYAGE OF THE 'DISCOVERY' [Jan. 



As we could not penetrate this sheet, there was no choice 

 but to follow its edge, which we proceeded to do, hoping that 

 it would eventually turn in a more promising direction. 



During the last few days of fog and mist we had seen a few 

 seals and a large number of penguins of both the species which 

 inhabit these regions. The latter appeared to live on the 

 most amicable terms, and it was a common sight to see a few 

 alert, busy little Ad^lies preening themselves amidst a group 

 of dignified, ponderous Emperors ; both showed great curiosity 

 as we passed, and leapt into the water in our wake with loud 

 squawks. What great speed these birds must possess in the 

 water is shown by the manner in which they shoot out of it 

 and land erect on a floe two or three feet above the surface. 

 Occasionally on an exceptionally high ice-edge they miss their 

 aim and, dashing heavily against the ice, fall sprawling back 

 into the sea with wild complaints ; but this does not appear to 

 disconcert them, for with wonderful pertinacity they will try 

 again and again to reach their goal. As we advanced, the 

 Emperors grew more numerous, until it was rare not to have 

 two or three groups of a dozen or more birds in sight from the 

 bridge. 



In the comparatively clear weather which we enjoyed on 

 the afternoon of the 31st we could get a good view over the 

 immense sheet of sea-ice, which appeared to be gradually 

 carrying us farther from the land. It was quite smooth and 

 showed no sign of pressure, but here and there the ice was 

 sunken and sodden, giving the appearance of large pools of 

 water. At that time we could hazard no guess as to the cause 

 of this decay, though doubtless it is the same effect as we 

 afterwards witnessed in the ice-sheet about the ' Discovery ' in 

 places where the current ran over a shallow bottom. 



Far in on the ice-sheet we could see a few small bergs 

 securely frozen in and drifted up with snow, and grouped 

 about the base of one or two of these were many hundreds 

 of Emperor penguins. The steady increase in the groups we 

 had met with and their final discovery in such great numbers 

 seemed to indicate that we had at length found their breeding- 



