Photo by Sir Ernest H. Shackleton 
From "The Heart of the Antarctic," by E. H. Shackleton (J. B. L,ippincott Co.) 
TWO EMPF.ROR PENGUINS ON SOUTH VICTORIA LAND 
nected with extensive land to the south 
of it." * 
Long designated as insular, the conti- 
nental character of Palmer Land has 
^Attempts have been made to discredit Fan- 
ning, a sealer, making no claims to scientific 
.accuracy in astronomical positions. His gen- 
eral statements are strikingly confirmed by the 
■discovery by the Belgica, under Gerlache, of a 
■continental plateau, from 75° to 103° W. (the 
Belgica s farthest), sloping gently to the south, 
with soundings from 100 to 250 fathoms. Un- 
questionably the plateau extends farther west. 
been gradually proved through the dis- 
coveries of Larsen, 1893; of Norden- 
skiold, 1903, and of Charcot, 1910. 
As it is now acknowledged that this 
land is a northerly projection of the 
continent of Antarctica, to this American 
sea captain must be given geographic 
credit second to the other only known 
discoverer of a continent — Christopher 
Columbus — who no more than Palmer 
realized the greatness of his work. 
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