554 



SUPPOSED ANTARCTIC CONTINENT. 



snow. Disembarking at the point mentioned, lie ascertained the 

 presence, under the snow, of clay, red granite, and basalt, but no 

 sign of stratification. On the beach, frequented by the Cachalot 

 whale, the seal, and legions of sea-birds, were found numerous 

 zoophytes and some small crustaceans. 



The accuracy of the American navigator's observations has been, 



however, disputed by geographers, and in 1841 Sir James Ross 

 demonstrated that the threshold of this problematical continent was, 

 at least in certain places, much more distant than Wilkes had sup- 

 posed. Sir James himself discovered, between 70 and 78 south 

 latitude, an extensive tract of land which he named South Victoria, 



