SCIENTIFIC ADVANTAGES OF AN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 435 



cap is tlie largest iu the world. Its behavior could probably be watched 

 along many parts of its margin, and this research would doubtless 

 afford great help in the interpretation of the glaciation of the northern 

 hemisphere. 



To sum up: Geologists would hail the organization and. dispatch of 

 an Antarctic expedition in the confident assurance that it could not 

 fail greatly to advance the interests of their science. Among the ques- 

 tions which it would help to elucidate mention may be made of the 

 following: 



The nature of the rocks forming the land of the Antarctic region, 

 and how far these rocks contain evidence bearing on the history of 

 terrestrial climates. 



The extent to which the known fossiliferous formations of our globe 

 can be traced toward the poles; the gaps which may occur between 

 these formations and the light whicdi their study may be able to throw 

 on the evolution of terrestrial topography. 



The history of volcanic action in the past, and the conditions under 

 which it is continued now iu the polar regions; whether in high lati- 

 tudes vulcanism, either in its internal magmas or superficial eruptions, 

 manifests peculiarities not observable nearer to the equator; what is 

 the nature of the volcanic products now ejected at the surface; whether 

 a definte sequence can be established from the erui^tions of still active 

 volcanoes back into those of earlier geological periods in Antarctic 

 lands; and whether among the older sheets leaf beds or other intercal- 

 ations may be traceable, indicating the prolongation of a well-developed 

 terrestrial flora toward the South Pole. 



The influence of the Antarctic climate upon the rocks exposed to its 

 action; the eflects of contact with ice and snow upon streams of lava; 

 the result of the seaward creep of the ice cap in regard to any lava 

 sheets intercalated in the ice. It is conceivable that portions of lava 

 streams might be broken off by the onward motion of the ice which they 

 overspread, and might thus be carried out to sea, intercalated in or cap- 

 ping icebergs. 



The physics of Antarctic ice in regard to the history of the Ice Age 

 in northern Europe and America. 



ANTARCTIC FAUNA. 



Although an ardent advocate of Antarctic exploration, Mr. Sclater 

 acknowledged that, as regards the higher vertebrates, with which he 

 was most conversant, there was little chance of the discovery of new form s 

 of animal life in the South Polar continent. The Antarctic mammals and 

 birds (of the latter of which about twenty ST)ecies were known) were 

 exclusively of marine forms. JSTot a single land mammal or land bird 

 had been yet obtained in Antarctica. As regards the class of fishes and 

 the marine invertebrates, the case was quite different, and great dis- 

 coveries might be anticipated in these groups, where very little had yet 



