152 THE ANTARCTIC. 



Cook observed vegetation at the north end of the island, 

 suggesting a covering of verdure. Next comes the largest 

 member of the group, Montague Island, in latitude 58° 27' 

 S., and like Saunders Island, also in longitude 26° 24/ W.. 

 an elevated island completely covered with ice and snow, 

 and with a circumference of upwards of twenty-eight 

 miles. This island is followed by a small group : Bristol 

 Island, with three outlying islets to the west, of which 

 the outer one, Freezeland Peak, has a high conical 

 summit. The position of Bristol Island is to be found 

 in about latitude 59° S. and longitude 26° 35' W. Still 

 farther south lies Southern Thule, consisting of four lofty 

 islands and islets, all covered with snow and ice like the 

 preceding group. Nothing has as yet been ascertained 

 concerning the structure of these islands, nor indeed of 

 any of the South Sandwich Islands, with the exception of 

 Sowadowskji, but it seems reasonable to assume that all 

 the members of the group are more or less of volcanic 

 origin, although also containing non-volcanic rocks. The 

 soundings in the region of these isles are so few that it 

 is not possible to come to any conclusion respecting the 

 direction and the breadth of the submarine base, which 

 it is to be presumed these islands have in common. 



4. THE SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS. 



Like the South Sandwich Islands, the South Orkneys 

 also belong to the least known of the island groups of 

 the south-west Atlantic, spite of their comparatively low 

 latitude. They have been seen by but few Antarctic 

 travellers, and if an acquaintance with their common 

 coast line is any test, examined by fewer still. With 

 the exception of Powell, their first discoverer, Weddell 

 and Dumont d'Urville, no one, not even their last visitor 

 Larsen, has given a description of the islands ; and the 

 accounts of the three former are exceedingly scanty, and 



