to overhaul the wireless station, and
on the 6th, Sawyer, Sandell and I spent the day laying in a supply of
benzine from Aerial Cove, changing worn ropes, tightening stay-wires,
straightening the southern masts and finally hauling the aerial taut.
These duties necessitated much use of the "handy billy," and one has
but to form an acquaintance with this desirable "person" to thoroughly
appreciate his value.

Blake and Hamilton returned on January 8 and reported that their work
was finished at the southern end. Thenceforth they intended to devote
their time to finishing what remained to be done at the northern end and
in adding to their collections. Blake, for instance, resolved to finish
his chart of the island, and, if time permitted, to make a topographical
survey of the locality, as it was of great geological interest. Hamilton
made the discovery that a number of bird specimens he had packed away
were mildewed, and as a result he was compelled to overhaul the whole
lot and attend to them. He found another colony of mutton birds on North
Head, the existence of which was quite unexpected till he dug one out of
a burrow thought to contain "night-birds."

About the middle of January I endeavoured to do a little meteorological
work with the aid of some box-kites manufactured by Sandell. But though
a number of them were induced to fly, we had no success in getting
them up with the instruments attached. They all had a habit of suddenly
losing equilibrium and then indulging in a series of rapid dives and
plunges which usually ended in total wreckage.

The 'Rachel Cohen' again visited the island on January 26, but this time
she anchored off "The Nuggets," whither the sealers had gone to live
during the penguin season. We could see the ship lying about a mile
offshore, and walked down to get our mails and anything else she had
brought along for us. I received a letter from the Secretary of the
Expedition saying that he had made arrangements for us to return by the
'Rachel Cohen' early in April, and the news caused a little excitement,
being the only definite information we had had concerning relief.

The end of the first month found Blake and Hamilton both very busy in
making suitable boxes for specimens. Many of the larger birds could not
be packed in ordinary cases, so Hamilton had to make specially large
ones to accommodate them, and Blake's rock specimens being very heavy,
extra strong boxes had to be made, always keepi