EXPLORATION OF ANTARCTIC LANDS. 493 
extended as a smooth grey sea. If such a condition often occurs, it is 
easy to see how the higher rocks become free of snow in summer, 
while those near sea-level remain covered. At 3 p-m. the mist cleared 
completely from the side of the land, and we were able to proceed, 
passing through a narrow and beautiful sound which separated a group 
of islands from the coast. The mountains rose almost perpendicularly 
at various points, and on the rocks I again noticed parallel lines follow- 
ing the outline of the tops of the small coast glaciers (a, a, a on Fig. 5; 
¢, ¢ are crevasses). 
The Belgica passed on, steering south. It was a pity to leave this 
most interesting region, where we could so easily collect quantities of 
valuable scientific material, and of which we could have made a com- 
plete geographical study, now that the outlines of the great strait had 
been charted. We ran close along the coast of Graham Land, noting 
that many islets and rocks extended 
to a considerable distance from the 
shore. Many icebergs were met, 
and we also encountered a good 
deal of sea-ice. At 8 p.m. we 
passed several typical table-bergs, 
large, flat-topped, rectangular, the 
ice stratified horizontally with 
great regularity, and only a few 
narrow vertical crevasses to be 
seen. They rose about 50 feet out 
of the water; about 40 feet con- 
sisted of ice as white as the névé 
which capped it; compact ice was 
only seen near the base. Just in 
the line of the three icebergs of this kind which we saw, we found 
an enormous flat glacier spreading to the sea without any interruption 
in the form of an ice-fall. 
On Sunday, February 13, the coast was so encumbered with ice 
that we had to keep out to sea towards the Biscoe islands. About 
11 a.m. we traversed a little light pack-ice, and passed near some table- 
bergs. The melting sea-ice had a dirty yellow colour, and on examin- 
ing the melted ice under the microscope, Racovitza found it swarming 
with diatoms. We remained in sight of the coast, and more small 
islands appeared. At 5 p.m. we sighted a number of fantastic icebergs, 
amongst which I saw many transitional forms between the table-bergs 
and the peaked arctic forms. I made drawings of four of them (Fig. 14). 
The sea was rough, and the breakers dashed against the shore and the 
icebergs. About 8.30 pm. we were in the midst of a labyrinth of rocks, 
and there were also several low snow-covered islands in sight. At 
10 p.m. the Belgica was in a very uncomfortable situation, threading her 
GLACIERS, 
