126 Scientific Travellers. 



minea being considered as unknown in Europe. The splendid tus- 

 sack grass is the gold and glory of these islands. It will, I hope, 

 yet make the fortune of Orkney and Irish landowners of peat bogs. 

 Every animal here feeds upon it with avidity, and fattens in a short 

 time. It may be planted and cut like the guinea grass of the West 

 Indies. The blades are about six feet long, and from 200 to 300 

 shoots spring from one plant. I have proved, by several experiments, 

 that one man can cut 100 bundles in a day ; and that a horse will 

 greedily devour five of these in the same time. Indeed, so fond of 

 it are both horses and cows, that they will eat the dry tussack thatch 

 from the roofs of the houses in preference to good grass. About 

 four inches of the root eats like the mountain-cabbage. It loves a 

 rank wet peat bog, with the sea-spray over it. Indeed, when the sea 

 beats with the greatest violence, and the sea-spray is carried furthest, 

 then the tussack grass thrives the best on the soil it loves. All the 

 smaller islands here, though some of them are as large as Guernsey, 

 are covered with tussack, which is nutritious all the year. 



" The whole of the gentlemen on the expedition are delighted with 

 the Falkland Islands, and express themselves as being more pleased 

 with them than even with New Zealand. Some think them in every 

 way better for colonization, even with the drawback of wanting tim- 

 ber-trees there. When the observations made during their voyage 

 are published, you will be surprised at their favourable account of the 

 climate. 



" In addition to all these scientific observations, the surveying 

 department is exploring and examining different harbours, sites for 

 different objects in a new settlement, &c. 



". The botanist and I started from Port William, where I had been 

 eight days, at seven o'clock in this winter morning, and on foot ; 

 arrived at Government House by four o'clock in the afternoon, ex- 

 amining the country we travelled over, where there is a good deal of 

 mossy bog. No one had done this before in one day during the 

 winter, yet the distance as the crow flies is not far. 



" I have tamed a Guanaco from Patagonia. He lies down before 

 the fire, with his head on my knee, like a dog, though he is now as 

 tall as a donkey. I hope to get more in the Falkland Islands. They 

 browse on the poorest land, and their flesh is like venison. Their 

 wool is thick, but I fear not so valuable as that of the Alpaca. The 

 monkey from the Cape de Verds has hitherto kept his health, and is 

 quite lively. I hope soon to give a favourable account of my adding 

 to our domestic breed of animals the valuable fur seal. 



" In going from Fort Sussex to Mount Osborne I passed several 

 herds of wild cattle. The day was most beautiful, and so clear that 

 I saw from Cape Dolphin to Cape Carysford, all over Berkley Sound. 

 Lively Island appeared at our feet." — From the Guernsey Star. 



LETTER FROM MR. FRASER, ZOOLOGIST TO THE NIGER EXPEDITION. 



To Richard Taylor, Esq. 

 My dear Sir, — I arrived here on the 15th of May, after a cruise 

 of six weeks in the Bights, in H.M.S, Iris, Termagant and Persian. 



