Apeil 16, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



607 



Eoyds abounded in diatoms, rotifers, water 

 bears and infusoria. Numbers of rotifers 

 ■which were examined microscopically had 

 been frozen into the ice at temperatures be- 

 low zero for three years; yet after a few 

 minutes' thawing out they suddenly revived 

 and began eagerly devouring the fungus 

 which abounds in these lakes. In some cases 

 only the body, not the head, of the rotifer ap- 

 peared to come to life. Several rotifers were 

 similar to those already described by Hurray 

 as having been found at Spitzbergen and 

 Franz Josef Land. The water bears came to 

 life in the same manner. 



On the black lava rocks of Mount Erebus 

 which had absorbed the sun's heat the snow 

 melted at temperatures below zero and at a 

 height of 9,000 feet. This explains how lich- 

 ens and similar plant life are enabled to flour- 

 ish in the Antarctic regions. 



The marine fauna near Cape Eoyds bears a 

 resemblance to the types of animal life of the 

 coal measure series found in Australia and 

 Tasmania. Specimens will be examined by 

 scientific specialists in New Zealand and Aus- 

 tralia. 



The northern expedition found masses of 

 marine muds 40 feet above the sea level. 

 These contained vast numbers of foraminif- 

 eral shells. The biloculina type, which form 

 the biloculina ooze of the Arctic Circle, are 

 specially abundant. 



The geological discoveries disprove the Ant- 

 arctic archipelago theory. The continental 

 plateau extends from the newly discovered 

 mountains 45 miles west of Cape Eoyds and 

 the magnetic pole to beyond the south pole 

 itself, probably over 1,800 miles. By far the 

 most interesting geological discovery is that 

 of coal measures in latitude 85° ; these meas- 

 ures 1,500 feet thick, contain seams of coal 

 1 foot to 7 feet thick. The microscopic ex- 

 amination of the mineral charcoal which has 

 been secured may indicate its geological age. 

 Eounded quartz pebbles and the great thick- 

 ness of the sandstone formation imply the ac- 

 tion of running water prolonged through many 

 ages. The limestone discovery at the farthest 

 south, interstratified with a remarkable rock 

 of pinkish gray, branded with dark green, un- 



like any that Professor David has ever seen, 

 may prove important under microscopic ex- 

 amination. The ancient rocks examined 

 apparently contain monazite. 



Near Mount Larsen an interesting deep 

 green mineral was found, which is almost cer- 

 tainly a compound of vanadium. Mount 

 Erebus, like Stromboli, proved a good barom- 

 eter, the steam, colunan ascending and 

 eruptions occurring with a low barometer. At 

 periods the active crater contained molten 

 lava. The old crater was filled alraost to the 

 brim with layers of snow. There are millions 

 of felspar crystals 3 inches to 4 inches long, 

 and pumice lava is of a rare kenite type. 

 Fossil radiolaria were found in erratics of 

 banded chert near Cape Eoyds. Lieutenant 

 Shackleton is sending specimens of all these 

 rocks to the British Museum. The exact loca- 

 tion of the magnetic pole was fixed by elabo- 

 rate triangulation by Mr. Mawson, extending 

 over 200 miles from Mount Erebus to Mount 

 Melbourne. It proved that the magnetic pole 

 is no longer moving eastward as in Eoss's 

 time, but is now traveling northwestward in 

 much the same direction as the north magnetic 

 pole. 



The summit crater of Moimt Erebus was 

 very active as regards steam and sulphur 

 gases. No molten lava was seen, but during 

 a big eruption in June and until September 

 the steam column was glowing like a huge 

 beacon fire, indicating that there was molten 

 lava in the crater. Eecently ejected " bombs " 

 were found lying on the new snow, large 

 quantities of sulphur being formed in the 

 crater. 



The coal measures discovered far south are 

 probably older than the Tertiary Period; in- 

 deed, judging from the induration of the rock, 

 they apparently date back to paleozoic times. 

 No fossils to settle the point have been found, 

 but a microscopic examination of the speci- 

 mens may solve the problem. 



THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT ANGELL 

 The regents of the University of Michigan 

 have passed the following resolution: 



This board has received with regret the assur- 

 ance of our beloved president. Dr. James Burrill 



