482 MB. n. tf. MOSELET ON TFTE 



slopes lead down to the sea on all sides. These slopes are of very 

 moderate inclination, and are broken in numerous places by shallow 

 valleys bounded by cliffs where the more ancient flows of lava 

 have suffered denudation. These valleys are occupied by more 

 recent lava-flows, which still retain their rough pinnacled upper 

 surface. Further, all over the slopes and summits of the island 

 are scattered irregularly numerous small cones, formed mostly of 

 conspicuously red scoria*. The lava is basaltic, presenting in many 

 places in the cliffs a columnar structure. Some sand gathered on 

 the shores of a small freshwater lake near the sea was full of 

 augite and olivine crystals. 



The island was sighted together with Prince-Edward Island on 

 Dec. 25, but was not approached closely till the morning of Dec. 

 26th. The upper part of the island was covered with snow, com- 

 mencing, as usual, on the slopes as patches lying unmelted in 

 sheltered hollows, succeeded by a general thin coating or pow- 

 dering over, through which the black rock showed out in all direc- 

 tions, and above this, again, on the highest cones and peaks, form- 

 ing a continuous sheet of glistening white. The summits were 

 enveloped in clouds, which lifted or dispersed in a partial manner 

 from time to time. Below the snow and up amongst the patchy 

 region, the slopes of the island were covered with a coating of 

 green, which formed a contrast to the dark cliffs and red lower 

 ones, which were almost destitute of verdure and had very little 

 snow upon them. Here and there large patches of yellow showed 

 out amidst the green, and were conspicuous even at some distance 

 from the shore. It was found that these patches were formed of 

 mosses. The mosses, indeed, occurring thus in patches, some dark, 

 some nearly white, and others yellow, form the principal features 

 in the vegetation as seen from a distance, showing out, as they do, 

 amongst the very uniform mixture of phanerogamic plants. The 

 small rocky projections on the rough surfaces of the modern lava- 

 flows, standing out dark above the verdure, have at a distance 

 exactly the appearance of low bushes with dark foliage, and were 

 at first belived to be such. Landing was effected on the N.-b- 

 side on Dec. 20, 1873. The day was remarkably fine and sun- 

 shiny. 



The rocks, about half-tide mark, are covered with a dense growth 

 of Durvillea utilis, which is of great assistance in breaking tbe 

 surf. Beyond the ordinary reach of the sea, but still within the 

 beach-line, the rocks are covered with a crassulaceous pla fl 



