290 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



purple spot at the root of the bill* and with straight beaks. Mr. Eld 

 was too much exhausted to return with him to get specimens, and 

 the hour being late, it was necessary to return to the boat, which had 

 been waiting for some time for them. The quarter-master succeeded 

 in getting his penguins to the boat, but Mr. Eld's began floundering 

 about, and although their legs were tied, managed to get into the 

 water, where they were at home, and were soon out of reach. The 

 tying of the legs did not seem any impediment to their exertions in 

 the water, and thus several interesting specimens of natural history 

 were lost, the trouble that it cost making them doubly valuable. With 

 great difficulty Mr. Eld reached the boat; for, having again missed his 

 foothold, he fell among the kelp, but by the timely aid of those on 

 board he was rescued. After an hour's tug at their oars, they reached 

 the ship in safety. During their absence the ship sounded with a line 

 of three hundred fathoms, two and a half miles from the shore ; but 

 no bottom was found. The temperature of the water at the surface 

 was 43°, and at three hundred fathoms deep 39°. The current was 

 tried, but none found. 



The south end of Macquarie Island lies in latitude 54° 44' S., and 

 longitude 159° 49' E. The island is high and much broken; it is 

 apparently covered with verdure, although a long tufted rank grass 

 was the only plant seen by those who landed. 



The highest peak on the island is from twelve to fifteen hundred feet 

 high, and as far as our observations extended, it had neither tree nor 

 shrub on it. At 6 p. m. the ship filled away, and at eight was abreast 

 of the Bishop and Clerk. Macquarie Island affords no inducement for 

 a visit, and as far as our examination went, has no suitable place for 

 landing with a boat. The only thing I had to regret was not being 

 able to make it a magnetic station. 



On the 11th and 12th nothing particular occurred on board the Pea- 

 cock. All sail was set, and running to the southward on the 13th, in 

 latitude 61° 30' S., longitude 161° 05' E., the first ice-islands were 

 seen. The dip was observed with Lloyd's and Dolland's needles, which 

 made it 86° 53'. 



There was no occasion on the night of the 13th to light the binnacle- 

 lamps, as newspaper print could be read with ease at midnight. On 

 the 14th, while still making much progress to the south, and passing 

 occasionally icebergs and brash ice, the water appeared somewhat 

 discoloured. Robinson's, Lloyd's, and Dolland's needles, gave, the 

 same, day, in the cabin, 86° 37' for the dip, and in the ward-room, 86 c 

 46'. Albatrosses, Cape pigeons, and other birds about. 



On the 15th, they passed many ice-islands. The weather was thick 



