APPENDIX 



ON THE VEGETATION OF SAN AMBROSIO AND SAN FELIX. 



From San Ambrosio and San Felix we have only seen fragments, without flowers or fruit, 

 of three plants, doubtless Composite, collected by Dr Coppinger of H.M.S. "Alert;" 

 but Dr E. A. Philippi ' has published some particulars of the physical conformation and 

 vegetation of these islands, which is reproduced here in a condensed form, for the little 

 that is known seems to indicate a distinct affinity with the flora of Juan Fernandez. 



San Ambrosio and San Felix are in the same longitude as Juan Fernandez, and in 

 about 26° S. latitude, opposite the harbour of Caklera, and distant therefrom nearly 450 

 English miles. Commander Simpson of the Chilian navy visited both islands in 1869, and 

 reported thereon as follows : — The principal island of the San Ambrosio group is a 

 plateau, about 1300 feet above the level of the sea, and rising perpendicularly from the 

 sea almost all round, with a peak at the south-west end 125 feet higher. On the 

 east side is an arched triangular rock some 125 feet hio-b, running north and south, 

 and separated from the main island by a channel a hundred yards wide. Besides 

 this, there is another rock about sixty-five feet high ; and in continuation of the same, dis- 

 tant about three-quarters of a nautical mile, a conical rock 130 feet high, which being 

 white with birds' dung, looked in the distance like a boat under sail. North-west of San 

 Ambrosio, some 200 yards, another rock was visible. The north side of the island is free 

 from rocks, but the south side is studded with reefs. All along the north side only two 

 small bays were seen where landing was feasible, one, half a nautical mile from the north- 

 west point, and the other in the middle. It was only from the latter that the high land 

 could be reached by ascending a small ravine that there runs down to the coast. Learning 

 from Findlay's " Directory of the Pacific Ocean " that a copious spring of good fresh water 

 was reported to exist on the top, it was resolved to make the ascent, which was not accom- 

 plished without much difficulty and an hour's toil. On reaching the top of the island, it 

 was found to be nearly elliptical in shape, and two and a halt nautical miles long by one 

 broad, and traversed from north to south by ravines, in which were traces of fresh water. 

 But, although the island was traversed in all directions, only sufficient water was found to 

 quench the thirst of the party ; therefore it was inferred that the person who informed 



1 Bot. Zeit., 1870, pp. 496-502, t. 2. — Vegetation der Inseln San Ambrosio unci San Felix. 



(BOT. CHALL. EXP. — PART III. — 1885.) C 13 



