264 



Small and insignificant though the island was, it nevertheless had always an 

 interest on account of the variety of crystalline volcanic rocks which it supplied, 

 many of them of considerable beauty. 



See Ferrar, Nat. Hist. Rep., vol. i., p. 14. 



PLATE CXXXIX. EOSS ISLAND FROM THE S. 



From a sketch made looking northward from the northern extremity of White 

 Island; Feb. 21, 1902. (Map B.) 



The whole of Ross Island on this, the south side, is almost completely buried 

 in snow and ice. 



From Mount Erebus to the left is the narrow promontory known to us as 

 Winter-quarters Peninsula. At the left end of it, and behind Observation Hill, is 

 Winter-quarters Bay. 



On the extreme right, along the sky-line downwards from the summit of Mount 

 Terror, a number of rocky projections are kept clear of snow by the fury of the 

 southerly winds which sweep round this side of the island and become concentrated 

 at Cape Crozier. It has been noticed more than once that when a heavy blizzard 

 is blowing at each extremity of this island, there is a flat calm in the bay between 

 Winter-quarters Peninsula and Cape Mackay. 



In the many journeys that have been made across this " fair weather bay," no 

 foul weather has ever been experienced, nor has the snow surface ever shown a sign 

 of more than a gentle breeze. (See Plate CXL.) 



PLATE CXL. ROSS ISLAND FROM THE TOP OF CRATER HILL. 



From a sketch made looking to the N. from the top of Crater Hill on Winter- 

 quarters Peninsula ; November 1902. (Map B.) 



This sketch shows on the right the " fair weather bay " mentioned in connec- 

 tion with Plate CXXXIX., lying between Cape Mackay in the distance and the 

 peninsula from which the sketch was made. 



Castle Rock as usual forms a prominent feature under Mount Erebus, whose 

 western slopes run down to Cape Royds at sea-level on the left. Here also may 

 be seen the four rocky islets known as Dellbridge Islands, projecting from the 

 frozen surface of M'Murdo Sound. 



