SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS. xvi 
mental in securing the assistance of the Government. 
In concluding, Professor Herdman said there was 
scarcely a branch of scientific knowledge that would 
not receive some benefit from this expedition. The 
great winds which seem to have their origin on the 
Antarctic lands would be investigated, and the tides, 
currents, and ocean circulation would come under the 
observation of the explorers. Although the two 
Polar areas differ in so far as the South Pole is 
surrounded by continental land, whilst the North 
Pole is surrounded by an ocean, still there is said to 
be a certain similarity between the two Polar faunas; 
but he said that he was one who did not believe in 
the Bi-Polar theory, supported by Sir John Murray, 
which held that the organisms existing at the South 
Pole were similar to, and of common origin with, 
those at the North Pole. There was a layer of ice- 
cold water lying at the bottom of the sea from north 
to south, however, and it was possible that certain 
marine animals might migrate from one pole of the 
world to the other by this means. Fossils belonging 
to the Tertiary Period ard also Paleozoic rocks had 
been discovered in Antarctic regions, which indicated 
that the continent was of ancient origin, and there 
was reason to suppose that there had been more land 
there formerly than now. ‘Therefore, deposits of 
Geological value would come under the observation 
of the land party, and the results would, no doubt, 
form a magnificent contribution to the history of 
selence. 
The eighth meeting of the fourteenth session was a Field 
_ Meeting held at Cuerdly Marsh, near Widnes on Saturday, 
June 9th, 1900. After tea (to which the party was kindly 
