562 PROCEEDINGS. 
ing both to and from Australia. He perceived that Mr. Russell 
made no reference to black or discoloured ice, such as was recorded 
in large quantities in 1892 and 1893. The barque by which he 
had travelled encountered twenty-three ice-masses of this character, 
The majority were of small extent, and resembled whales’ backs, 
but several were true bergs. One measured upwards of three 
miles in length, with a maximum height out of water of about 
eighty feet. The colour was dark brown or black, and it had 
occurred to him that this colouring might throw some light upon 
the genesis of the icebergs usually met with in running down the 
easting. Whatever theory might be advanced to account for the 
colouration of the smaller masses, there was little doubt in his 
mind that the true bergs appeared black from the presence of 
matter ejected during the long continued action of an antarcti¢e 
voleano. The observation of an uncommon berg, such as the one 
referred to, by officers of vessels in different latitudes, would 
certainly be of more than ordinary value in connection with the 
rates of drift and melting, since the identification would be more 
easy than usual. He regretted to think that even the extensive 
records Mr. Russell had had the good fortune to receive could 
hardly be regarded as sufficient for definite conclusions relating 
to this important subject; owing to the lack of approximately 
simultaneous observations in different latitudes. i 
exemplified in his own experience during a recent voyage t0 Chili 
His vessel’s track lay between 50° and 51° south latitude, and D0 
ice was seen in March. Bergs were reported, however, during 
the same month by a vessel whose track lay 3° to the north 
Either report alone might have led to an incorrect conclusion, % 
it was to be hoped that shipmasters would report negative expert 
ence, in order that the author might form as complete @ theory 
as possible, 
The discussion upon the papers by Prof. T. W. E. David, BA 
F.G.8., and W. F. Smeeth, m.a., A.R.8.m., and by C. Hedley; rh | 
read at the previous meeting were further postponed © 
October meeting. 
