Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/258

254 expeditions. All such pioneer attempts must take their chance of success or failure in a new application given to us by the advance of science.

This area, where Bellingshausen and Biscoe almost a century ago have alone given us a clue, strengthened by the investigations of Ross and of the Scotia, offers an especially fine field for meteorological and magnetical research. This is because of the systematised series of meteorological stations which exist to the north-westward of the region right up to the South American continent—thanks to the efforts of the Scotia and of the energetic Argentine Republic that has backed up and continued the work of that expedition. Such an expedition will give a very complete idea of the meteorology and magnetism of the South Polar Regions in all western longitudes, and in meteorology especially is required a systematic and synchronous series of observations such as are here indicated.

The world shrinks, but, after all, this is only from the point of view of those who do not look into futurity. Each scientific investigation leads to the discovery of new scientific facts and problems not only unknown, but often entirely unconceived. Newer and wider fields for investigation will offer themselves in the future than in the past; rather, then, should we say, the world expands!