Juny 3 19174 | 
with Bickerton, formed the western party. The 
western journey was conducted for the most part at 
an elevation of about 4000 ft., and proved very dreary. 
"Wind and drift were the rule, notwithstanding the 
fact that it was then the height of summer. The 
average wind velocity for the period of the whole 
journey, as calculated from the daily records, was 
thirty-four miles an hour. 
The party passed over the highlands of the Adelie 
Land seen by D’Urville, coming close to the coast in 
lat. -667°35'5. long., 137° 58 E.,..where*they saw 
frozen sea to the west. One of the points of special 
interest connected with this journey was the finding 
of a piece of rock? a pound or two in weight, lying 
on the surface of the inland ice sheet far from any 
nunataks. 
Seven of us remained in Adelie Land for a second 
vear. Wireless communication was established with 
Macquarie Island about the middle of February, 1913, 
and we were able to apprise the world of the happen- 
ings before even the Aurora herself had reached 
Hobart. The wireless proved a success and a boon 
throughout the year, though temporary stoppages, 
however, occurred, owing to unusual difficulties 
arising chiefly from the constant hurricane. For 
example, it was found difficult to keep the aerial up; 
difficult to hear the messages on account of the 
muffled roar of the wind; and often impossible to 
work on account of the heavy electrical discharge 
from the atmosphere. 
On December 2, the Aurora arrived, picking up 
Ainsworth, Blake, Sandell, and Hamilton en route, 
to relieve us in Adelie Land. With them they brought 
three new men down to carry on the meteorological 
and wireless station on account of the Commonwealth 
Government, by whom the station is to be maintained 
in the future. 
The result of the labours of Ainsworth and his party 
is that complete scientific information regarding 
Macquarie Island is now available. Besides the 
routine work, many new _ problems have _ arisen 
enriching biological, meteorological, and geo- 
logical literature. 
Commonwealth Bay was reached on December 13. 
Visits were paid to outlying islets, and a considerable 
programme of oceanographical work and dredging 
on the continental shelf carried out. Steaming west- 
wards, a new addition was made to the western ex- 
tremity of Adelie Land. Oceanography and an exam- 
ination of the Shackleton ice shelf occupied us until 
February 7, when the pack was finally left behind. 
On the return jcurney a line of soundings was 
secured, completing a section of the ocean floor be- 
tween Western Australia and Queen Marv Land. 
Adelaide was reached on February 26, 1914. 
SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC OPERATIONS. 
I. TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM. 
A. Field Work. 
(a) Dip determinations at Macquarie Island, on 
the eastern and southern journeys from the 
main base, and on a short journey from the 
western Antarctic base. 
(b) Declination by theodolite observations was 
determined at Macquarie Island and at inter- 
vals on all sledging journeys in the Antarctic. 
(c) Rough observations made daily on the ship. 
B. Station Work. 
(a) Regular magnetograph records were kept at 
the main base for a period of eighteen months. 
A system of term days for quick runs was 
3 This rock is quite unusual in appearance and may prove on examination 
to be a stony meteorite. 
NO# 2331, VOL. 93} 
NATURE 
469 
also followed; Melbourne, Christchurch, and 
other stations cooperating. In connection with 
the magnetograph work, Webb conducted 
regular absolute observations throughout the 
year. His worl: was admirably done in the 
face of remarkable difficulties in the matter 
of weather. 
(b) At the western base Kennedy kept term days 
through the winter, using a magnetometer 
and dip circle. 
BIroLoecy. 
1. Station Collections. 
(a) At Macquarie Island, Hamilton worked for 
two years amongst a rich fauna. The forms 
discovered are not merely those of oceanic 
types; amongst other things a new native 
finch has been discovered. 
(b) At the main base, Hunter, assisted by Laseron, 
secured a large collection, notwithstanding 
the obvious disadvantage of bad weather. 
Dredgings down to 50 fathoms were made 
during the winter. The eggs of practically 
all the flying birds known on Antarctic shores 
were obtained, including those of the silver- 
grey petrel and of the Antarctic petrel not 
before known; also a bird and its eggs of an 
unrecorded species. 
(c) At the western base, the eggs of the Antarctic 
and other petrels were obtained, and a large 
rookery of Emperor penguins located. Harri- 
son did a little marine work from floe, work- 
ing with inadequate gear in 250 fathoms of 
water. In this way he succeeded in trapping 
some interesting fish. 
2. Ship Collections. 
(a) A collection made by Mr. Waite on the first 
sub-Antarctic cruise. 
(b) <A collection made by Prof. Flynn on the 
second sub-Antarctic cruise. 
(c) A collection made by Hunter, assisted by 
Hamilton, in Antarctic waters during the 
summer of 1913-14. This comprises a num- 
ber of deep-sea dredgings working down to 
1800 fathoms, also regular tow-nettings, fre- 
quently serial, to depths of 200 fathoms. Six 
specimens of the rare Ross seal were secured. 
GEOLOGY. 
(a) A geological examination of Macquarie Island 
by Blake. The older rocks were found to be 
all igneous. The island has been overridden 
comparatively recently by an ice-cap_ travel- 
ling from the west. 
(b) Geological collections at the main base. In 
Adelie Land the rock outcrops are meta- 
morphic sediments and gneisses. In King 
George V. Land there is a formation similar 
to the Beacon sandstones and dolerites of the 
Ross Sea. Carbonaceous shales and coaly 
strata are associated with it. 
(c) Stillwell collected a fine range of minerals and 
rocks from the terminal moraine at winter 
quarters. Amongst them is abundance of red 
sandstone, suggesting that the Beacon sand- 
stone formation extends also throughout 
Adelie Land, but is hidden by the ice-cap. 
(d) Collections by Watson and Hoadley at the 
western base. Again gneiss and schists are 
the dominant features 
(e) A collection of erratics brought up by, the 
dredge in Antarctic waters. 
