CEOZET ISLANDS. 183 



above a mile from the reach of the tides, of several trunks of 

 trees about 14 feet long, and measuring from 14 to 18 inches 

 through, which were found lying on the ground as if thrown 

 up by the sea. The wood was close, heavy, and hard, but being 

 split up with wedges made very good clubs. Hence it was not 

 fossil wood. Goodridge concluded that it was drift-wood thrown 

 up so far during some volcanic convulsion. 



We were told by the sealers that the rabbits, which are 

 abundant on the Crozets, were not good to eat, because of their 

 food. The wild hogs were, in Goodridge's time, very fierce and 

 dangerous to approach single handed. The hogs have large 

 tusks. Sealers told us that it would not be well to introduce pigs 

 into the other southern islands, as they would destroy the birds, 

 the main support of chance castaway mariners. The last account 

 of a visit to the Crozets is that of Captain Lindesay Brine, RK, 

 who saw an iceberg 300 feet in height within sight of the group.* 



The mean temperature of the air whilst the ship was off the 

 islands, from December 30th to January 2nd, was about 44° or 

 45°. The highest reading was 50°, which occurred twice, the 

 lowest 39-6°. 



January 6th. — We sighted Bligh's Cap in the evening. It 

 appeared as a hazy rounded cone on the horizon. Numerous 

 birds surrounded the ship, and as on our approach to the other 

 islands, penguins were to be seen in every direction. The birds 

 were, Dromedea exulans, D. fidiginosa, D. culmiuata, a Prion, 

 Dctption Capensis, Ossifraga gigantea, and an Oceanitis. A Skua 

 also was seen, though the land was eight miles distant A 

 squall in the morning brought a slight fall of snow. The water 

 assumed a peculiar dark colour, probably from its shallowness. 

 Bligh's Cap is a small outlying rocky island to the north of 

 Kerguelen's Land. 



January ith. — After lying off for the night we reached 

 Christmas Harbour and anchored at 8.30 p.m. 



For a list of Plants collected in the Crozet group by the U.S. Transit of 

 Venus Expedition, see J. H. Kidder, M.D., "Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.," No. 

 3, II, p. 31. 



* Capt. Lindesay Brine, B.N., "Geogr. Mag.," Oct., 1877. 



