inoffensive animals that were met with in the autumn. On the approach of any one, they became at once alert and ferocious, and if any attempt was made to capture their young, the parent would rush forward and snap viciously at the intruder. Attempts were made to rear some of the young seals on board the ship, but with no success, for although carefully tended, and fed with preserved milk sucked through an india rubber tube, they invariably died after being in captivity a few days.

Another great event at about the same time was the return of the penguins, which not only gave life and animation to their hitherto dreary surroundings, but was the cause of a very welcome addition to their daily fare in the shape of meat and eggs. Of the latter, the men would collect several thousands in the course of an afternoon, some of which were stowed in barrels for immediate use, while the remainder were packed in salt, and preserved for a future day. They were looked upon as a great luxury by the men, who certainly indulged to a very large extent in their consumption, for we are informed that whether they were boiled, fried, cooked, or raw, in omelettes or scrambled, they would consume on an average as many as fifteen per man per diem! A very interesting description of the habits of the penguins, especially during the pairing and breeding season, is given by Mr. Brown. Their love-making is thus described:

"As soon as the birds arrive at their rookeries, the mates are chosen, and this involves much display and showing off on the part of the male. He stands erect, drawing himself up to his full height, with head thrown back and neck craned upward, then he slowly and impressively waves his flippers several times and emits a long loud cackle; this over, he resumes his normal somewhat squat position, and looks around him to see what impression his charms and powers have had on the onlooking females. This process re

peated a few times generally results in a couple being paired off, and nestbuilding then begins. Another very favorite demonstration of affection on the part of a couple is like this: the two stand facing one another, and stretching forward cross their beaks, and then proceed to sway from side to side in unison, uttering the while a shrill, harsh cry."

On the 6th of August a gloom was cast over the little community by the death of their engineer, Mr. Ramsay, who for some time had been suffering from heart-disease, and who passed away peacefully on the above-named date, mourned and regretted by all his comrades. This was the only loss, through death, that was sustained by the expedition.

as

Although the heavy and constant gales of wind experienced, even early as the month of August, had a distinct effect on the ice in Scotia Bay, causing a perceptible swell that could be felt in the ship, and which naturally raised the hopes of all on board of the prospect of an early release from the ice, it was not until the 25th November that the pack cleared away and set the little ship free, after an imprisonment of eight long weary months. Leaving a party of six men, including two members of the scientific staff, to take up their abode in Omond House to continue the scientific observations so zealously and so consistently prosecuted during the winter, the Scotia put to sea on the 27th November, and making her way to the northward, without much impediment from the ice, reached the Falkland Islands on the 2d December, where they had the immeasurable pleasure of reading home letters, and gathering information regarding the events that had been happening since their departure ten months before.

A very pleasant week was spent at Stanley, when the Scotia again put to sea, and after experiencing the excitement of taking the ground, and remaining hard and fast for a couple of days at the entrance to the River Plate, they

arrived safely on Christmas Eve at Buenos Ayres. The cause of the grounding of the ship was due to the removal of one of the lightships at the mouth of the river, and their not being aware of this important fact. A month was spent very profitably at Buenos Ayres, where the ship was docked, repaired, coaled, provisioned, and completely refitted, and also in making plans for the prosecution of another summer voyage to the Southern Seas, in order to further extend the work so happily and so prosperously commenced the previous summer.

Satisfactory arrangements were also made with the Argentine Government to take out three gentlemen belonging to that country to reside at Omond House, with the view of establishing a permanent meteorological station in the Far South. This commendable decision of the Government of Argentina was in a great measure due to the energetic enthusiasm of Mr. W. G. Davies, the head of the Meteorological Office, who fully realized the importance of such an establishment in a high southern latitude. On the 21st of January, 1903, the little Scotia, with her complement augmented by the three Argentine scientists, again put to sea. The Falkland Islands were revisited, and a most interesting general description of those islands is given by Mr. Brown, more especially with reference to the natural history of the group.

Scotia Bay was reached on the 14th February, and those on board were rejoiced to find the party they had left at Omond House all in good health and spirits, and very pleased to see their comrades again. A week was spent at their old winter quarters, during which time they were fully occupied in landing the stores for those who were to be left in possession, fixing a new roof to the house, and otherwise making the place comfortable. Dr. Pirie and his party returned on board, being relieved by Mr. Mossman, the three Argentine gentlemen, and one of the crew of the Scotia, all of whom had volunteered

to remain in the South Orkneys for the ensuing winter.

Chapter XI., written by Dr. Pirie, gives an account of the landing-party from the time the Scotia sailed until her return. Much useful scientific work was accomplished, and much valuable information in many branches of science was obtained during the time they were landed. In his notes concerning the penguins he estimated that, at a moderate computation, each "rookery" (the name given to their breeding-places) contained at least 200,000 birds, and as there were many "rookeries" in the neighborhood, the number of birds congregated on the island must have been incalculable. On an average, there was a nest to every square yard! The nests were made of a few pebbles scraped together in a very rough and primitive fashion. Each contained two eggs, though occasionally three were found in one nest. The snowy petrel and Cape pigeon also had their nesting-places in the group. The eggs of the last-named bird had never before been found, and were therefore new to science. Collecting the eggs of these birds was by no means pleasant work, for, in common with the petrel, they had the disgusting habit of ejecting the oily contents of their stomachs at the intruder, the noisome stench from which clung persistently to their clothes for a long time.

The Scotia bade farewell to those remaining in Scotia Bay on February 21, and steering to the southward, commenced her second voyage of discovery.

Six days later she crossed the Antarctic Circle, with only loose streams of ice in sight.

On the 1st of March their track of the preceding year was crossed, and good progress was made under sail alone, in a sea perfectly free of ice, where the year before they had met with an impenetrable pack. These wonderful and complete changes in the positions of pack-ice are by no means unusual in Polar seas. On the following day, however, their further progress

was checked by the ice in lattitude 72 deg. 18m., when within sight of what at first was reported to be land, but which proved to be a lofty ice barrier, rivalling in height and extent, and very similar in appearance to the famous barrier of ice discovered by Ross in 1840, and recently seen and investigated by the English Antarctic Expedition under Captain Scott. They were able to trace this great wall of ice, rising to a vertical height of 100 to 150 feet, to a point estimated to be about 150 miles to the south of the position where they had first sighted it. The summit of this great inland ice, of which the barrier was the terminal face, appeared to rise in gradually undulating slopes until lost in height and distance in the sky. In one place there was the appearance of the outline of what was assumed to be distant hills. The belief in the proximity of land was strengthened by finding a depth of only 159 fathoms of water at a distance of two and a half miles from the barrier. The presence of innumerable birds, such as penguins, terns, skuas, petrels, etc., seemed also sure indications of the near presence of land. Acting on the assumption that what they saw was in reality new land, they gave it the name of "Coats Land," in honor of Mr. James Coats and Major Andrew Coats, the two principal subscribers to the Expedition. Not doubting for a moment its actual existence, they write, "Whether it is a large island or a part of the Antarctic continent remains for future explorers to finally decide, but the latter hypothesis seems the more probable one."

This discovery is, from a geographical point of view, exceedingly interesting, and of the highest importance as Mmiting the extent of the Weddell Sea, and increasing very considerably the size of the great Antarctic continent.

On the 7th the Scotia encountered a furious northwest gale, which had the effect of driving the ship into the heavy pack-ice, in which she was completely beset-their position at the time be

ing 74 deg. 1m., the highest latitude that they attained. Their situation in the pack was not an enviable one: the ice was exceedingly heavy, and the ship was severely handled by it, causing her timbers to creak and groan in a most ominous and alarming way. However, after a week's besetment the ship was fortunately liberated, and pursued her voyage to the Northeast. Deep-sea soundings and dredgings were continued, and with gratifying results.

On one occasion, at a depth of 1400 fathoms, no less than sixty separate species of animal life were obtained in one haul! At such a great depth, where all is darkness, hundreds of fathoms below the limit of the penetration of the rays of the sun, the majority of the animals brought to the surface were either totally blind, or were provided with eyes of enormous size which probably magnified to an extraordinary degree their visual power.

As they proceeded northward they experienced exceptionally boisterous weather, accompanied by heavy seas, in which the little Scotia rolled and pitched in a most uncomfortable manner. It is recorded on one occasion that she rolled 56 degrees to starboard and 43 degrees to port, thus oscillating through an arc of practically 100 degrees! Recording observations with delicate instruments under such conditions, may be better imagined than described. No ice was seen after April 5; and on the 21st they reached the unfrequented little island of Diego Alvarez (now called Gough Island), situated in the South Atlantic, almost midway between Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope. A most interesting day was spent investigating the fauna and flora of this tiny island. All were in raptures with the "shady nooks," the "mossy grottoes," the "springy turf," the "grassy banks," and, above all, they felt "the joy of mingling again with the abundance of nature, of treading on land, and drinking in the smell of earth," so uifferent to what they had

been accustomed to on the sterile shores of the South Orkneys.

Cape Town was reached on the 5th of May, where they were all most cordially welcomed and hospitably entertained. Leaving Table Bay on the 17th, the Expedition called at Saldanha Bay, thence touching at the islands of St. Helena, Ascension (of which excellent and interesting descriptions are given), and Fayal, reached home in July, where, it is needless to add, they were accorded that warm and enthusiastic reception at the hands of their countrymen, which they so well and so deservedly merited. Not the least gratifying acknowledgment of their services was the receipt of the following telegram from Lord Knollys:

"I am commanded by the King to congratulate you and the officers and crew of the Scotia on your and their safe return, and on the completion of your important additions to the scientific knowledge and discoveries in the southeastern part of the Weddell Sea,"

This brings to an end the "Voyage of the Scotia," an expedition well conceived and excellently conducted. The concluding chapters of the book comprise a narrative of the work performed by the party left behind in Scotia Bay, to continue the hourly meteorological observations, and to com

plete the series of magnetic observations commenced during the first winter; also to add to the natural history collections previously made. This party was relieved on the 31st December, 1903, by the Argentine gunboat Uruguay, which had been specially dispatched by the Argentine Government to convey a party to the South Orkneys for the purpose of relieving Mr. Mossman and those with him. The Uruguay, it may be noted, was the same vessel that had the previous year rescued the Swedish Expedition, under Nordenskjold, from Grahamland.

The "Voyage of the Scotia" is not the least meritorious of the many books that have been written descriptive of life in the Polar Regions, and will surely take its place as a very welcome, as well as a useful, addition to South Polar literature. There is not a dull page in the book; each one teems with interest, and is delightful reading. Every incident, and more especially those relating to what may be termed the manners and customs of bird-life in the South Orkneys, is most graphically described, and is exceedingly interesting and instructive. The maps are excellent, and will assist very materially in enabling the reader to follow the Scotia in her interesting voyage to Antarctic Seas.

W

HY is it that the Frenchwomen of the salons of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were so celebrated? Because they were the most superb hostesses the world has ever known, and because they inspired men.

Now in what lay the supreme art of these queens of entertainers? They did not give music to their guests, not always dinner or supper (some were too poor for this); most of them were neither young nor beautiful; they were not well or thoroughly educated as a rule, and some were by no means rich. One of them was blind. Yet, whether they were rich or poor, old or young, pretty or plain, well educated or ill educated, they were great social queens, whom it was a privilege to know, and the entree to whose salons was regarded as the hall-mark of distinction and merit, where the guests were sure to be happy, cheered, soothed, stimulated and admired. The secret of the success of these great women (for they were great in a small world) was that they possessed the supreme qualities of tact, charm and sympathy-qualities of the soul which enabled them to draw out all that was best, finest, noblest in men. They appealed to the inner man and not merely to the senses. To do this in perfection required the most exquisite gifts of mind and heart. No fool could possibly do it. Beauty, riches, birth, rank, all admirable adjuncts it is true, were of no avail without the spiritual force which enabled

these women to illuminate the spirit of their guests. In proportion as they possessed this spiritual force, their power and influence existed.

Shenstone says, "There is a quality in which no woman in the world can compete with a Frenchwoman, it is the power of intellectual irritation. She will draw wit out of a fool." If of a fool, then how much more of the really gifted! Now the women of the salons possessed this quality of intellectual irritation in a superlative degree. They never tried to show off their own cleverness, but always the cleverness of others. With this object in view, they led the conversation, putting in an adroit question or remark occasionally, but always with the idea of leading up to the special subject and displaying the talents peculiar to each man present. The French have always excelled in conversation, but Madame de Staël said that no one who had not heard it before the Great Revolution of 1789 could know what conversation really was.

It was Madame de Rambouillet who originated the salon, and made it the power it was for 250 years. It was in her salon that the custom originated of authors (who until then were poor, and more or less miserable and despised) reading out their poems to the assembled guests. Such a thing had never been seen before, of literary men being received as equals by the great world, after being gently taught good manners, encouraged to stand upright,