THE THIED VOYAGE 139 



very much because poor Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander, 

 after being accustomed to tropical -heat and that hottest 

 of harbors, Kio Janeiro, were rather suddenly cooled down 

 here in the height of summer. The climate in winter is, 

 however, as mild in proportion as the summers are chilly ; 

 the annual temperature is assuredly low, but the averages 

 of that of each season are remarkably close. 



Sir William was delighted with the living plants sent home 

 from Hermit e Island, and writes on March 14, 1843 : 



So valuable a consignment has not been received at the 

 Garden since we came here. The two new kinds of Beech, 

 and these the most Southern trees in the world, are invaluable, 

 and the Winter's Bark Tree (of the latter only one specimen 

 was in the kingdom before) are growing beautifully. 



Of the third voyage to the South Hooker wrote later to 

 his father (March 7, 1843) : 



Now that the voyage is over we are very proud of it 

 (pride in poverty, you will remark), for we have got nothing 

 easily. This cruise was not so hazardous as the last, being 

 less in Bergy seas, nor have we been in any so extreme 

 danger, but then as the ships cannot last for ever it becomes 

 daily more uncomfortable on the philosophical principle 

 of the * Pitcher going 99 times to the well.' 



Leaving the Falklands on December 17 ' without one regret/ 

 they preceded south on the meridian of 55 W., seeking for 

 a continuation of Louis Philippe Land to the south-east. 

 They met the pack on Christmas Day, and three days later 

 sighted Joinville Land in the South Shetlands. Extended 

 exploration was made and various islands discovered, while 

 the ships were nearly wrecked on Darwin Islet. On New 

 Year's Day, 1843, Mount Haddington was discovered ; on 

 January 5, Cockburn Island, in 64 12' S., of which formal 

 possession was taken. Boss's ' Voyage ' contains Hooker's 

 special report, five pages long, of its rare vegetation. 



Landing on the * very singular crater-shaped, conical 

 Island,' he writes, ' I procured the ghosts of eighteen Crypto- 



