FROM EDINBURGH TO THE ANTARCTIC 363 
the greedy Giant Petrel, and the Blue Petrel. Mother 
Carey's chickens are also to be found here, as in all 
other parts of the oceanic world. There are no land 
plants known to be within the Antarctic Circle. 
All these observations were made, and these specimens 
procured, between December 16, 1892, and February 18, 
1893. On the latter date we had glutted our ship with 
seals, and turned her head homewards. The following 
afternoon we passed Clarence Islands, the most easterly 
of the South Shetland group, its three bold ridges loom- 
ing through mist and scud. The land was wild and 
majestic, towering over the adjacent icebergs. Like 
other land we had seen, it was entirely snow-clad, except 
on the most precipitous slopes, which were short and 
abrupt to the south, but long and easy to the north. 
On February 20 at 9 A.M. we passed our last berg in 
about 6o° 27' S. and 53 0 40' W., or about forty miles 
north of Clarence Island. Port Stanley was reached on 
the morning of 28th February ; Portland on 24th May ; 
and finally, on 30th May, we came to rest at Dundee. 
It is to be hoped that before long we shall see another 
expedition sailing to Antarctic Seas, but one in which 
scientific research will be the primary object. A rush 
to the South Pole is not what we urge ; but a systematic 
exploration of the whole South Polar regions. The 
outline of Antarctica has to be definitely mapped out ; 
we must sound, dredge, and trawl ; make temperature 
and salinity observations throughout the breadth and 
depth of the ocean, and study the direction, force, and 
nature of oceanic currents. We can study the problems 
