354 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



mercurial column. Generally, the wind is inclined to increase in strength with a falling, 

 and decrease with a rising barometer. Bad weather may be expected with an unsteady, 

 and fine weather with a steady pressure, no matter whether the height of the column be 

 high or low. 



The mean pressure at the island is probably about 2970, and the extreme range 

 from 30"30 to 28 "40, or nearly 2 inches. 



The climate of Kerguelen is much the same throughout the year, the mean summer 

 temperature being about 45°, and the mean winter temperature 36°. Although the 

 thermometer even in the depth of winter seldom descends below freezing point, and 

 the snow never remains on the low ground more than two or three days at a time, a 

 heavy fall is of no uncommon occurrence at all times of the year, even in the height of 

 summer. In spite of cold, wind, and rain, the island is very healthy, the most general 

 complaint being an excess of appetite. 



As the mean winter temperature is nearly the same as that of the Falkland Islands, 

 where sheep farming has lately been carried on with much success, and as the sheep 

 landed from the "Erebus" and "Terror" in the depth of winter in Christmas Harbour, and 

 those landed from the " Volage " in Royal Sound in summer, throve exceedingly well, and 

 got very fat, there appears every reason to believe that the breeding of these useful animals 

 at Kerguelen would prove a commercial success. 



At the suggestion of Sir George Nares some rabbits and goats were landed by the 

 Transit of Venus Expedition, and were doing well when the " Volage " left the island in 

 February 1875. 



A large party landed at the head of Christmas Harbour on the morning of the first 

 arrival of the Expedition at Kerguelen, all eager to kill a Fur Seal ; as the boat grounded 

 on the black volcanic sand, some greyish-brown forms were made out, lying amongst the 

 grass just above the beach. A rush was made to the spot, but they were found to be 

 only four Elephant Seals, reclining beside a small stream which runs down here from a 

 little lake, on a small plateau above, into the sea. 



The Elephant Seals, when stirred up, raised their heads and put on the usual savage 

 expression that they exhibit when disturbed, which is effected by contracting the facial 

 muscles about the nose, so as to throw it into a series of very prominent transverse folds. 

 They opened their mouths, showed their teeth and uttered a roar, consisting of a 

 series of quickly succeeding deep guttural explosions. They bit savagely at a stick, and 

 twisted it out of one's hands, but made no attempt to go to sea, making on the contra ry 

 into the stream, and up it inland, moving by a regular flop-flop motion of the body, 

 like that of the common British Seal, but more clumsily performed. 



Whilst the party was either looking at these Elephant Seals, or beating the ground 

 for ducks, on a shot being fired the head of an animal raised high above the grass on 



