364 
SCOTT'S LAST EXPEDITION 
[August 
where they could hear the birds squawking, but from 
which they were quite unable to find a way down. The 
poor light was failing and they returned to camp. Starting 
again on the following day they wound their way through 
frightful ice disturbances under the high basalt cliffs ; 
in places the rock overhung, and at one spot they had to 
creep through a small channel hollowed in the ice. At 
last they reached the sea ice, but now the light was so 
far spent they were obliged to rush everything. Instead 
of the 2000 or 3000 nesting birds which had been seen 
here in Discovery days, they could now only count about 
100 ; they hastily killed and skinned three to get blubber 
for their stove, and collecting six eggs, three of which 
alone survived, they dashed for camp. 
It is possible the birds are deserting this rookery, but 
it is also possible that this early date found only a small 
minority of the birds which will be collected at a later 
one. The eggs, which have not yet been examined, 
should throw light on this point. Wilson observed yet 
another proof of the strength of the nursing instinct in 
these birds. In searching for eggs both he and Bowers 
picked up rounded pieces of ice which these ridiculous 
creatures had been cherishing with fond hope. 
The light had failed entirely by the time the party 
were clear of the pressure ridges on their return, and it 
was only by good luck they regained their camp. 
That night a blizzard commenced, increasing in fury 
from moment to moment. They now found that the 
place chosen for the hut for shelter was worse than useless. 
They had far better have built it in the open, for the fierce 
