OF THE ANTARCTIC VOYAGE. 291 
time, as a fine Statice, a little Psyllium, and four or five 
curious forms of Umbellifere, as the Bolax, which forms large 
overhanging semi-circular mounds, and the little Azorella ly- 
copodioides and filamentosa, a new Caldasia and a most singu- 
lar Hydrocotyle (?) with fistular simple linear leaves. The 
shore is covered with entangled masses of two species of 
Macrocystis and other Sea-weeds. A Sticta, one of the most 
beautiful of Lichens, forms large leafy patches among the 
Grasses, of several sorts, while the barren rocks are covered 
with L. geographicus, a noble Roccella, sometimes nearly a 
foot long, and other fine Lichens, which completely whiten 
them where they are most exposed to the light. 
“ The holes and crevices are full of Mosses and Jungerman- 
nie, a Riccia, two Hookerie, two Bartramie and others. It 
has been the first fine day we have enjoyed for a long while, 
and the plants are just beginning to sprout. Viola Magel- 
lanica and the Ovalis are showing their leaves, and the tufts 
of grass look green at the base, especially the fine Hiero- 
chloe (?), of which the old leaves, drying in the sun, smell 
delightfully. The poor Birds, whose breeding-season has 
commenced, are revelling in the change of weather. The 
Steamer-Ducks flock along the water, so tame that any one 
may come within a yard, as they are pluming themselves and 
uttering their wheezing clack-clack, presenting a curious con- 
trast to the restless shy Black-backed Gull, which watches 
them from over-head, and whenever the poor Duck, after a 
dive, emerges with a fine sea-animal in his bill, this pirate 
Gull darts down and seizes the morsel, before the original 
captor has had time to draw his breath. Little Sandpipers 
are running and chattering along, and every here and there, 
the beautiful Kelp Goose, with her spotless white Gander, 
appears sitting on a rock, and picking choice specimens of 
Alge. A smaller Gull, with black head and beautiful rose- 
coloured breast, has the habits of a Tern, perpetually scream- 
ing and suddenly dropping, with wings erect, on the water, 
with a little splash, to pick up some incautious shrimp. 
