ALGOUS PEAT 



283 



The general appearance and mode of occurrence of the deposit is shown on 

 Plate XC. Fig. 2, and the details of the peaty ice are shown on Plate XC. Fig. 3, 

 and on Fig. 65. 



Algous Deposit near New Harbour. 



One of us (R. E. Priestley) observed an algal-like substance growing as a thick 

 layer on the black mud of the tide flats just above the present level of the water 

 and well inside the region which must be covered either at ordinary high tide or 

 during any unusual rise of the water. The peculiar point about the plant was 

 the formation of a series of cones as much as 6 inches high, which were formed by 

 the gas from the organic mud underneath collecting as large bubbles under the 

 impervious skin of algse. 



So far none of these peat deposits observed by us are more than a few acres 

 in extent, but it is quite probable that in the larger lakes, such as that of Dry 

 Valley (which, as shown by Scott, is about 14 miles in length), deposits of much 

 greater extent may accumulate. Thus under the rigorous conditions of the 77th 

 to 78th parallel of south latitude peaty material, which later may form coal, is 

 actually growing at the present time. 



GUANO 



Mr. F. B. Guthrie has also fui'nished us with the following analysis and interest- 

 ing account of the guano sample submitted by us from Cape Royds : — 



Adelie Penguin Guano, Cape Royds Rookery, Antarctica. 



Moisture ..... 



Organic mattei' and ammonium salts 



Insoluble matter (sand) 



Phosphoric acid (P.jOj) 



Equivalent to Caj (PO^)., 



Potash (K._,0) . 



Total nitrogen . 



Equivalent to ammonia 



Nitrogen in form of ammonium salts 



Equivalent to ammonia 



Per Cent. 

 16-57 

 46-75 

 18-72 



8-32 

 18-16 



0-72 

 11-65 

 14-15 



3-09 



3-75 



Its approximate percentage composition will be : — 



Moisture 16'57 



* Organic matter and ammonium salts . . 4675 



Insoluble matter (sand) ...... 18-72 



Tricalcic phosphate ....... 18-16 



Potash 0-72 



100-92 



' Containing 11-63 per cent, nitrogen, equivalent to 11-15 ammonia. 



