Voyage of Capt Sir James C. Ross to the Antarctic. 327 



large and distinct, with apparently a fresh fracture as if recently 

 detached. It was probably deposited by an iceberg. 



Various other granitic and volcanic masses were raised, and 

 also living coral ; various corallines, flustrse and marine inverte- 

 brate animals were obtained, proving that the bottom of this an- 

 tarctic sea is affluent with life. Very fine weather and fair winds 

 enabled them to push on rapidly, and at noon January 20th, they 

 were in lat. 73° 47' S., long. 171° 40' E. 



A high mountain was now seen, believed to be higher than 

 Mount Etna, and it was called Mount Melbourne. The dip now 

 amounted to 87° 39' in lat. 74° 15' S., by reckoning, or 74° by 

 observation. 



January 22. — At midnight the sun was shining in the south 

 at an altitude of about 2°, in a perfectly clear and serene sky, 

 which above was of a most intense indigo blue- 



Dredging in 300 fathoms for two or three hours, brought up 



many corallines, animals, sand, mud, and small stones, with some 

 entirely new forms of animal life, existing at a depth of nearly 



2000 fathoms. Some species that were fished up are common to 

 the arctic and antarctic seas, and if they passed from pole to pole, it 

 rnust have been through the tropics ; but they could not exist in 

 those seas except at a depth of nearly 2000 fathoms. At that depth 

 they might pass from the arctic to the antarctic circle (supposing 

 they could endure the pressure) without a variation of five de- 

 grees of temperature, " whilst any land animal at the most favor- 

 able season, must experience a difference of 50°, and in the winter 

 flot less than 150° of Fahrenheit." 



January 22.— -The second instance occurred to-day of a rise 

 °f the barometer above the mean pressure for these latitudes, fol- 

 lowed by a gale of wind and a snow storm. The latitude reach- 

 ed was 74° 20' S., the highest that had been attained by man, 

 and was the occasion of a festive celebration on ship board. 



January 23. — The rising of the barometer during a gale was 

 again observed ; it rose to 29*33 at 4 A. M. The land was again 

 in view, but they did not attempt to force a passage to it as they 

 still hoped to reach the magnetic pole by a circuitous route, 

 the dip had increased to 88° 10'. The mountains called Mel- 

 bourne and Monteagle were here seen conspicuous, the former 

 * crowned by what appeared to be an immense crater, the latter by 



a pointed summit. 



January 26. — In a clear sea, midsummer of this climate, the 

 thermometer was at 24° to 25°, and in heavy weather the spray 

 froze so as to encumber the bows and the ringing. The dip had 

 increased to 88° 33', so that the magnetic pole was now only 174 

 ttiles W. by S. 



January 27.— Lat. 75- 48' S., long. 168° 33' E. ; dip 88° 24', 



variation 80° 50' E. 



