APPENDIX 
did not receive ample satisfaction in writing within twenty- 
four hours as to the safety of the eggs England would 
reverberate with the tale. 
The ultimatum was effectual; and due satisfaction 
was forthcoming in time ; but I was relieved when I 
learnt later on that they had been entrusted to Professor 
Assheton for the necessary microscopic examination. But 
he died before he could approach the task ; and the eggs 
passed into the hands of Professor Cossar Ewart of Edin- 
burgh University. 
His report is as follows: 
APPENDIX 
PROFESSOR COSSAR EWART’S REPORT 
“It was a great disappointment to Dr. Wilson that 
no Emperor Penguin embryos were obtained during the 
cruise of the Discovery. But though embryos were con- 
spicuous by their absence in the Emperor eggs brought 
home by the National Antarctic Expedition, it is well to 
bear in mind that the naturalists on board the Discovery 
learned much about the breeding habits of the largest 
living member of the ancient penguin family. Amongst 
other things it was ascertained (1) that in the case of the 
Emperor, as in the King Penguin, the egg during the 
period of incubation rests on the upper surface of the feet 
protected and kept in position by a fold of skin from the 
lower breast; and (2) that in the case of the Emperor the 
whole process of incubation is carried out on sea ice during 
the coldest and darkest months of the antarctic winter. 
“After devoting much time to the study of penguins 
Dr. Wilson came to the conclusion that Emperor embryos 
would throw new light on the origin and history of birds, 
and decided that if he again found his way to the Ant- 
arctic he would make a supreme effort to visit an Emperor 
rookery during the breeding season. When, and under 
what conditions, the Cape Crozier rookery was eventually 
