September 23, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



411 



THE NATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.* 

 It is anticipated that the National Antarc- 

 tic Expedition may reach these shores one day 

 during next -week. Since its departure in 

 August, 1901, the expedition has passed two 

 years and two months within the Antarctic 

 Circle, and has achieved results which ad- 

 mittedly place it in the very first rank of 

 Polar expeditions. The return of the Dis- 

 covery will complete another entry in the long 

 roll of exploring enterprises for which, as 

 well as for her warlike victories, the British 

 navy has so long been distinguished. Much 

 of the success of the expedition is due to the 

 rare gifts for command displayed by Com- 

 mander Eobert Scott amid the trying condi- 

 tions of life in the Antarctic; but the officers 

 and men also deserve warm praise for their 

 devoted loyalty and zeal. All alike have done 

 splendid work, and all alike have earned the 

 thanlis of their countrymen. 



The task assigned to Commander Scott and 

 his companions in the official instructions was 

 one which in any case was bound to make 

 large demands on the courage and skill of all 

 concerned. To spend one winter in the far 

 south would have been no mean achievement. 

 But the expedition has done more than this. 

 Circumstances necessitated the passing of a 

 second winter in the Antarctic; and the work 

 of the second winter and the second traveling 

 season, while doubling the results, has more 

 than doubled their scientific value. The ex- 

 pedition involved hardships of no ordinary 

 kind, perils on which the members of the ex- 

 pedition will be the last to dwell, difficulties 

 which only Polar men can appreciate; but the 

 reward has been great. Extensive geograph- 

 ical discoveries have been made, and accurate 

 surveys completed. These are certainly 

 worthy of all the attention they have attracted, 

 but they form only a part of the achievement. 

 The discovery of a fossil flora in the far 

 soiith is of itself an event of great scientific 

 importance. The biological collections are 

 unique; for they are the only collections that 

 have been made YOO miles to the south of the 

 Antarctic Circle. The careful meteorological 



* From the London Times. It is announced by 

 cable that the Discovery has duly arrived. 



records are greatly enhanced in value by their 

 extension over a couple of years. The mag- 

 netic observations recorded at sea, as well as 

 those registered on the Antarctic land, will 

 certainly be of very special interest. Those 

 taken with the Eschenagen instruments form 

 a continuous record comprising 700 magneto- 

 grams. It is of course premature to anticipate 

 final results, though there are several fascina- 

 ting problems awaiting solution ; but it may be 

 mentioned that when, on November 1, 1903, 

 a magnetic storm prevailed from Potsdam to 

 New Zealand, the magnetic disturbances ob- 

 served at the Discovery's winter quarters were 

 unusually numerous and violent. The value 

 of the observations for declination, inclination 

 and total force during the memorable journey 

 over the great ice barrier, when a record south- 

 ing was attained, is very great, because the ob- 

 servations were secured under conditions quite 

 free from local disturbances. The results 

 will, therefore, be specially useful in fixing the 

 position of the magnetic pole. Other branches 

 of physical work, such as the taking of obser- 

 vations in connection with the force of gravity, 

 seismic disturbances and atmospheric electric- 

 ity, were steadily pursued throughout both 

 years. 



The Discovery is now approaching our 

 shores with this rich harvest of scientific re- 

 sults. Letters have been received from mem- 

 bers of the expedition from the Falkland 

 Islands, dated the third week in July. On the 

 whole, good weather had been enjoyed through- 

 out the voyage from New Zealand, and it was 

 anticipated that the Discovery would reach 

 England about September 15; but a telegram 

 from Ponta Delgada, which was printed in 

 The Times yesterday, indicates that she will 

 arrive much sooner, probably ' about the 10th.' 

 It is seldom in these days that an opportunity 

 is afforded of welcoming home an expedition 

 which has accomplished such brilliant and ex- 

 tensive explorations. Every effort will be 

 made to give all the members of the expedition 

 a fitting reception. On the arrival of the 

 Discovery at the London docks it is proposed 

 to entertain officers and men at a luncheon, 

 which it is hoped the Lord Mayor will be able 

 to attend, as well as representatives of the 



