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 (i) 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 



