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



eight species were collected which have been described by Professor Dickie. 1 Amongst 

 them were two new ones, and three which occur at Kerguelen Island, whilst the 

 remainder occur in Patagonia and Chili. The main mass appeared considerably different 

 from the masses of Algse found on the Kerguelen shore. Durvillea utilis grew attached 

 to the rocks under the cliffs, but the Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) does not grow at all 

 about this group of islands according to the sealers, which is a remarkable fact, when its 

 great abundance at Kerguelen's Land is kept in mind. 



The only insects seen at the island were the large apterous Fly of Kerguelen Island 

 (Calycopteryx moseleyi), which shelters itself, as there, in the heart of the Kerguelen 

 Cabbage, and a single dead specimen of a small beetle, found amongst the Azorella, 

 which was unfortunately lost. 



The water is deep all round Heard Island, except off the southeast point, where a 

 bank of black mud and sand is said to extend to a great distance ; off the coast are a few 

 detached rocks and islands. Red Island, off the north point, is a small dome-shaped 

 mass of dark red lava, about 200 feet high, separated from the coast by a channel, half 

 a mile in width, which did not appear navigable. One and a half miles north of 

 Red Island the depth is 60 fathoms, the bottom being shelly. In Corinthian Bay is a 

 black steeple rock, about 30 feet high, which has been named Church Rock, standing in 

 front of a whitish blue glacier. Four miles east of Saddle Point, the eastern end of 

 Corinthian Bay, are three small dark islands, named " Morgan Islands." Seven and a half 

 miles northeast of Rogers' Head are three small islets, named " Shag Islands," the highest 

 of which is about 200 feet high; a mile west of them the depth is 75 fathoms. The 

 central Shag Island is in lat. 52° 59' 30" S., long. 73° 35' 30" E. 



Shortly after its discovery, viz., in March 1855, Heard Island was visited by Captain 

 Rogers of the American whaler " Corinthian " and his four tenders, the " Atlas," 

 "Mechanic," "Exile," and "Franklin." They anchored in Corinthian Bay, and reaped 

 a rich harvest of Elephant Seals, procuring in one day four or five hundred barrels of oil. 

 The names of the ships composing Captain Rogers' squadron were given to the various 

 conspicuous headlands, bays, and islets of the group, and still serve to record the visit of 

 the seamen who first landed there. 



Since 1855 an Elephant Seal fishery has been regularly established at Heard Island, 

 but, owing to the want of a well-sheltered anchorage, it has been found necessary to 

 land a party for the purpose. At the time of the Challenger's visit there were forty men 

 on the island, distributed in parties along the coast, the' largest number at the south 

 end. At Corinthian Bay there were only six men, who were living in huts sunk in the 

 ground, partly to protect them against the strong westerly winds, which blow through 

 the gap separating the mountain in the northwest promontory from the main mountain, 

 with much violence, and partly for warmth, as in winter they cover them with snow. 



1 Journ. Linn. Hoc. Lond., vol. xv. p. 47, 1876 ; Bot. Chall. Exp., part ii. p. 256, 1884. 



