512 THE ANTARCTIC MANUAL. 
Before the reading of the paper, the Presmpent said: I think I can promise 
you a very interesting paper from Mr. Bernacchi. He is a young independent 
observer, and I think a very shrewd observer, and he has had the great advantage 
of observing in a most interesting part of the antarctic regions which has not 
previously been visited for nearly sixty years. I will ask Mr. Bernacchi to read 
his paper on the Topography of South Victoria Land. 
After the reading of the paper, the PaesipEenT said: In introducing Mr. Ber- 
nacchi, I forgot to mention what I had promised to state, namely, that the reading 
of Mr. Bernacchi’s paper had the full consent of his former chief, Mr. Borchgrevink. 
We hope that Sir Joseph Hooker may be disposed to make some remarks on the 
views expressed by Mr. Bernacchi. 
Sir Josep Hooxer: I have listened with very great pleasure to this most 
interesting and clear account of Mr. Bernacchi’s of the phenomena that he has 
witnessed in the antarctic seas and lands. So far as my very vivid recollection 
carries me, they precisely agree with what I saw myself now upwards of sixty 
years ago, put in a very clear and most instructive manner. Of course, the 
great interest of the voyage and observations is that great ice-barrier. That ice- 
barrier, I think I may safely say, presents the most remarkable unsolved glacial 
problem in the world, and there has been really no satisfactory explanation 
given of it. That which Mr. Bernacchi has put forward, which he very wisely 
regards as a mere speculation, is a very ingenious one, and it may be a 
true one, but it is exceedingly difficult to conceive any amount of névé in the 
Parry mountains driving a body of ice of that dimension over 300 miles. It is 
practically a plane surface, and we know nothing like it in any other part of the 
world. Then, again, with regard to there being water on the southern slopes 
of this barrier, is it not a fact that on no occasion did Mr. Borchgrevink see 
anything like a water-blink in the sky in that direction? If there had becn 
much water within any reasonable distance to the southward, I think we could 
not fail to perceive a water-blink in the sky. These are the only remarks I 
have to make. 
The Prestpent: Mr. Bernacchi allows about 50 miles of width. 
Sir Joseph Hoorer: Yes. I should like to ask Mr. Bernacchi if Mr. Borch- 
grevink’s party saw any appearance of these mountains seen by Ross from the 
extreme eastern edge of the barrier ? 
Mr. Bernaccui: No, none at all. 
The Presipent: Were you as far east as Ross ? 
Mr. Bernaccut: No; within 30 miles of Ross. 
Dr. Branrorp: I have not had time to look at the geological specimens 
exhibited by Mr. Bernacchi; but the additional facts that have been obtained 
concerning sedimentary rocks and their resemblance to some of the Australian 
rocks are very interesting, and will lead to further identification. Of course, the 
most interesting fact about the antarctic land area is the probability that this at 
one time has formed part of either South America or Australia, or probably of both; 
because if it was not land at one time, and land which was not entirely covered 
with ice, it is very difficult to understand how some curious connections between 
the animal life of South America and Australia can have originated. The fact 
that one of the great groups into which the marsupials are divided is only repre- 
sented in South America and Australia, is in itself extraordinary ; and it appears, 
from some recent observations, that the number of South American forms allied 
to the Australian marsupials is much greater than we in past times supposed. 
Then another curious fact is with regard to the horned tortoise Miolania, of which 
remains have only been found in Australia and South America. There are other 
