226 British Antarctic Expedition. 
indiarubber balls from the sea were shining like silver 
in their white waistcoats. 
It was difficult to determine much about the tide on _ 
account of the local disturbances and the unfavourable 
ice conditions. The current at midnight seemed to 
be settling westwards with great speed. The effect 
of the light of the midnight sun amongst some of 
the vapour clouds at the end of Robertson Bay was 
magnificent. Towards north and west open water 
was to be seen everywhere, while here and there 
icebergs were floating about in haloes of the most 
delicate pink and crimson imaginable. At the horizon 
there was a very strange mirage, telling of open 
navigable seas far beyond our limited horizon. 
On. November 25th а Ny Gale PUE 
from the SE with a great deal of Snow d 
This drift and the dust from the guano-beds made it 
suffocating to get about outside the camp. Large 
flocks of Pagodroma Nivea and  brown- backed 
petrels pierced the air. 
On November 27th Mr. Evans brought in his 
first skuagull egg ; the colour was light green, brown, 
or grey, with dark brown spots. 
The average barometer reading showed a con- 
siderable rise since the winter. Mr. Bernacchi and 
Lieutenant Colbeck were making the final arrange- 
ments for observations of the total eclipse, which 
was to take place on December 3rd. 
On December ist the flag was run up in honour 
of the Princess of Wales, whose birthday it was; 
and as it was also my birthday, each member 
received double the allowance of biscuits. 
Our expectations with regard to the eclipse were 
