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AURORA AUSTRALIS.

they plunged to swell the muddy waters of sub-glacial channels.

Camp was pitched at this stage and we indulged in the usual hoosh. The air felt quite warm and moist, so much so that instead of immediately crawling into our sleeping-bags, some time was spent in surveying the new scene before us.

At intervals spouting streams leapt from the glacier faces, and ploughing deep furrows in the morainic terraces at our feet, continued their downward courses as mountain torrents, till, almost lost in the distance below, they appeared as silver streaks threading their way by winding courses across the undulating plains of Bathybia, as we had unanimously designated this region.

Loud booming sounds proceeded upwards periodically from the depths below, occasioned by the precipitation of small avalanches breaking away from the icecap above.

Our biologist was busy examining lichens which coloured the boulders bright hues. There was abundant evidence of low forms of plant and animal life though curiously restricted in range.

Affairs had assumed such an interesting pitch, that we lost no time in getting under way on the following day. Novelties appeared on every hand, until we were