PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 
153 
In the Address to the Royal Geographical Society in July, 1894, 
by Clements R Markham, C.B., F.R.S., it was stated (p. 9) that 
"from Payer's furthest point in 82° 5' N"., a water sky made its 
appearance in the north, the temperature rose, and the rocks 
were covered with thousands of auks and guillemots. From a 
height Payer looked down on a dark sheet of open water dotted 
with icebergs." On April 12 the thermometer was at 54° Fahr. 
In the discussion following the reading of Dr. Murray's address, 
Mr. W. S. Bruce, of the Jason, said (op. cit. p. 36) that as far 
north as man has penetrated in Arctic regions " he has found 
reindeer, flowers and bees, brilliant sunshine, and the country 
green; but in midsummer in the Antarctic no plant grows — the 
summer sun is not sufficient to melt the snow. The temperature 
observations on our voyage show that in the height of summer 
the average range of the thermometer is below 32°, and that in 
the latitude corresponding to the Shetland and Faroe Islands in 
the north."* 
Dr. Murray also states that " No land animal, and no trace of 
vegetation — not even a lichen or a piece of seaweed — has been 
found on land within the Antarctic circle."! 
Briefly summarised, what is known at present about the 
Antarctic Continent is this : — A. Its outline is probably something 
like that shown on the map exhibited, enlarged from Dr. Murray's 
map. That there really is a continent there and not merely a 
group of islands is proved by the following facts :- — • 
(1) The great ice barrier is a vast land glacier which must 
have a gathering ground of continental proportions, 
estimated by Dr. Murray as being slightly larger, 
perhaps, than that of Australia, namely, about 4,000,000 
square miles. 
* These observations, however, do not agree with those recently made by 
Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink of the whaler Antarctic. See Note 1, at end of 
this address. 
t See Note 2, at end of this address. 
