374 
NATURE 
[ NOVEMBER 27, I9I3. 
gradual collapse of Evans with his shed finger 
nails, burst blisters, suppurating wounds, and 
mental lethargy, the swelling of the feet which 
gradually affected the whole party, and the few 
other symptoms stated, and those which may be 
read between the lines, all indicate scurvy as the 
cause of the gradual weakening of the party; and 
as the provisions had been cut down to a minimum, 
the slow progress rendered necessary the reduc- 
tion of the daily rations. The fall which is said 
possibly to have injured Evans is apparently hypo- 
thetical, and would have happened so late in his 
illness that it would be an effect, and not a cause. 
The explanation that the party was finally stopped 
[sees 
Photo.) 
by a ten days’ blizzard is inadequate, for though 
meteorological observations are not given for all 
the days between the arrival at the final camp 
and Capt. Scott’s last entry, the weather to the 
north during part of the time is described as cold 
but fine; and though blizzards may be local, it 
seems most improbable that one should have lasted 
sufficiently long to have prevented the last march 
of eleven miles to One Ton Depét, unless the men 
had been incapacitated by weakness. 
Dr. Wilson’s journals may contain more precise 
information, but from the general evidence in 
Captain Scott’s, it appears probable that scurvy 
was responsible for the disaster. The last pages 
NO. 2300, VOL. 92] 
Fic, 1.—Amundsen’s tent at the South Pole. 
in the journal are ennobled by the magnificent 
courage with which the men awaited their slow 
but inexorable doom. - 
The second volume consists of the narratives 
of the subsidiary expeditions and _ preliminary 
statements of the scientific work accomplished, 
and thus. calls here for longer notice. It would 
have been convenient if the names of the authors 
had been given in the list of contents. The volume 
opens with an account of the arduous journey by 
Dr. Wilson, Lieut. Bowers, and Mr. Cherry- 
| Garrard in the mid-winter of 1911 to the Emperor 
| Penguin rookery on the edge of the Barrier. This 
| bird nests in the coldest season of the year, and 
From ‘‘Scott’s Last Expedition.” [Lieut, Bowers. 
as knowledge of its embryology might give very 
interesting results, an expedition was made to 
collect the young eggs. According to the opinion 
quoted in vol. ii., p. 77, Captain Scott considered 
this journey to have been the hardest which has 
ever been done. The temperature recorded of 
—77° F. has only been exceeded in Siberia. 
The narrative of the Northern Party is given by 
Commander Campbell, who, with Dr. Levick, Mr. 
Priestley as geologist, and three men, were sent 
in the Terra Nova to reach King Edward Land, 
east of the Barrier. The steamer was unable to 
penetrate the pack ice, and according to the 
alternative instructions from Captain Scott, the 
