5^ 



NA TURE 



[May 1 8, 1905 



aceous seam, not more than one-eighth of an inch in 

 thickness, was found. This seam yielded carbon- 

 aceous matter which it is agreed must be due to 

 vegetation, but the plant remains are unfortunately 

 beyond identification. 



With regard to questions of climate, it is more 

 necessary to await the full dis- 

 cussion of the observations, but a 

 number of interesting points have 

 already cropped up. The smoke 

 froin Mount Erebus blew almost 

 persistently to the east, but every 

 record of the Ross Expedition de- 

 scribes it as going to the west. 

 At the Discovery's winter quarters 

 the prevailing winds were south- 

 easterly; the observers are strongly 

 of opinion that this is a local 

 phenomenon. Captain .Scott's 



general conclusions are to the 

 effect that the prevailing direction 

 of the surface winds is west-by- 

 south throughout the winter, and 

 more southerly during summer; 

 and that there is no snowfall ex- 

 cept in the summer and on the rare 

 occasions when the wind blows . 

 almost due south. These snow- 

 bearing winds were warm, rising 

 to a temperature of io° C. to 

 15° C. even in the depth of winter. 

 Their occurrence seems somewhat 

 difficult of explanation, but they 

 obviously have a very important 

 bearing on the relation of tempera- 

 ture and quantity of moisture in 

 periods, and modifying their intensity 



In describing the distribution of .\ntarctic seals. 

 Dr. Wilson records that the Weddell seal was the one 

 mo^t often met with ne;n- llie land. The expedition 



reason being that few skins escape the unsightly 

 scars inflicted by the killer whale. The expedition 

 collected much valuable material with regard to 

 doubtful species of birds, especially cases like the 

 emperor and king penguins and the white-winged 

 and ri>\nl albatrosses, where in the adults it is hard 



causing glacial 



to find specific differences, although the chicks are 

 quite distinct. 



Perhaps the most significant point in Mr. Hodg- 

 son's report is that, contrary to expectation, it was 

 found that outdoor biological work could be carried 

 on all the year round, " and that 

 even with comfort." As a result, 

 a continuous daily routine left no 

 time for examining the material 

 collected. Everything goes to 

 show that animal life is very 

 abundant in the southern seas, 

 and a predominant feature is the 

 enormous quantity of sponges. 

 One organism, regarded as a 

 Xemertine, though suspected to 

 be something else, appeared when 

 it arrived frozen at the ship to be 

 " close on 20 feet long, of a light 

 brown colour, and about the 

 diameter of an ordinarv boot- 

 lace. " 



In summarising the observations 

 on the sea ice, Captain Colbeck 

 has " no hesitation in saying that 

 the pack should be entered between 

 long. 178° and 180° E., as early in 

 December as possible." 



made an addition to the list which Dr. Wilson thinks 

 " will prove to be a wanderer from the Southern 

 Ocean islands, representing the now rare sea-elephant 

 of the M'Quaries." Dr. Wilson thinks little of the 

 prospects of the .Antarctic seal-fishery, notwithstanding 

 the increased demand for skins of hair-seals, the chief 



NO. 1855, '^O^- 72] 



THE STATE AND HIGHER 



EDUCATION. 

 ]yrR. CHAMBERLAIN, in 

 »»-'■ moving a vote of thanks 

 to the Lord Chancellor — who as Warden of the 

 Liniversity of. Birmingham gave an address in 

 Birmingham on May 13 — delivered a speech empha- 

 sising the importance to the nation of higher scientific 

 education. During his remarks Mr. Chamberlain 

 directed attention to the fact that the Universitv of 



