Being Comments ujpon the " Challenger " Beports. 49^ 



These erratics could have reached these localities only 

 by iceberg transport, and excepting during a cold epoch 

 icebergs would be melted long before the}^ could approach 

 so near to the equator. 



The expedition noted as did Ross that icebergs were very 

 scarce to the west of 80 deg. E, and from' this circumstance 

 they judged that much Antarctic land did not exist on that 

 meridian. This should indicate the course for the forthcom- 

 ing south polar expedition to take.* And in connection with 

 Antarctic expedition the small downward range of the 

 thermometer at Kerguelen warrants us in hoping that the 

 Antarctic climate is milder and less trying to explorers than 

 that of the Arctic. Thouo:h the summer be chillier than 

 that of the north, the winter is less severe. A self-registering 

 thermometer exposed for three seasons in the Georgias never 

 sank below — 5° 



At the Horn the winter temperature is very little lower 

 than that of Greenwicli, although the summer temperature is 

 much lower, while the mean range is much less.i" 



Having added to our library these valuable volumes of 

 the " Challenger" Reports, it appeared to me that the members 

 of this Society might be interested enough in the under- 

 taking to care to listen to these rough memoranda relating, 

 to a part of the cruise. 



Art. Y. — Plants collected in Capricornic Western Australia, 

 by H. S. King, Esq., and recorded by Baron Von 

 Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. c^ Ph.D., F.B.S, 



[Read 13th May, 1886.] 



During the last year survey-operations were carried on. 

 between the Lyons- and Fortescue -Rivers, as well as on and 

 near the Upper Ashburton-River, by Mr. H. S. King, under 

 the direction of the Honourable John Forrest, C.M.G.,. 

 F.L.S., F.R.G.S.; and on this occasion again, through the 

 influence of the enlightened Minister of Lands and Surveyor- 

 General of the colony, specimens of the plants, met 



* Beport, p. 430 ; M'Cormack's Antarctic Voyage, Vol. 1, p. 166. 

 f Challenger Reports, p. 877. 



