THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 409 
ultaneous observations had been arrived at, and in the first 
year of the twentieth century the two ships passed south- 
ward through the Atlantic and entered on their task. 
The old name of “ Discovery ” was given to the new 
British ship built at Dundee of solid oak. A large area 
of the hull was kept entirely free from any magnetic 
metal, so that the most delicate magnetic observations 
could be made on board. She was barque-rigged with 
short masts and a small spread of canvas, but had power- 
ful engines for a vessel of her type. The command of 
the expedition as well as of the ship was given to Com- 
mander R. F. Scott, R.N., formerly a torpedo lieutenant, 
and a man not only born to command but sympathetic 
with every branch of scientific work. The second in com- 
mand and navigating officer was Lieutenant Albert Armi- 
tage, R.N.R., who had taken part in the Jackson-Harms- 
worth Arctic expedition in Franz Josef Land and so had 
seen something of polar ice. The other officers were 
Lieutenant C. Royds, R.N., who had charge of the mete- 
orological observations in addition to his naval duties, 
Lieutenant M. Barne, R.N., and Lieutenant E. Ii. Shack- 
leton, R. N. R. Engineer-Lieutenant Skelton was the 
official photographer of the expedition. The four warrant 
officers, seven petty officers and most of the crew of 27 
men were picked from a very large number of volunteers 
from the Navy. In spite of the naval character of the 
ship's company she sailed under the blue ensign as a 
yacht. Two surgeons accompanied the expedition, Dr. 
R. Koettlitz, an enthusiastic naturalist who had served in 
the same capacity on the Jackson-Harms worth expedition, 
and Dr. E. T. Wilson, who was also an extremely talented 
artist. To each of these special scientific duties were as- 
signed. Three other members completed the scientific 
