3 I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ' [ANNOI776. 



of grass grows, called Penguin grass, from the birds of that species making their 

 nests, and burrowing underground like rabbits in holes. This grass grows 4 or 

 5 feet high; the blades are broad and coarse like rushes; the roots, when roasted, 

 eat like almonds. Ground sorrel every where abounds in the greatest plenty, is 

 extremely tart, and a most excellent antiscorbutic; the flower it produces is ex- 

 actly like the wild rose which grows in the hedges in England. Celery, pepper- 

 grass, and scurvy-grass, also abound on every island. Maidenhair, improperly 

 so called, is plentiful; the berries are ripe in February and March, and very 

 pleasant. A small species of cranberry abounds, and is the food of the wild 

 geese all the autumn, when the geese are best. In the spring season, and part 

 of the summer, there springs up an extremely pretty humble flower, which 

 nearest resembles in leaf the auricula, but in flower the primrose; only they 

 blow quite white. In very barren craggy spots, and even out of the clifts of the 

 rocks near the sea-shore, grows in the summer season, a small shrub which pro- 

 duces an uncommon but pretty flower, shaped like a lady's pocket; the colour is 

 a rich yellow; the seeds are very small. Wood strawberries grow on these islands, 

 and are ripe in March; are of an earthy insipid taste, and grow to the size of 

 the common small strawberry in England. These are all the natural vegetable 

 productions, and nothing rises to any size, nor does any tree grow on any of 

 these islands. 



The prevailing winds are from the s. to the w. for two-thirds of the year, and 

 in general boisterous and stormy. The n. and n.w. winds are mild and warm; 

 but seldom of long continuance. The winds from the n. e. are moist, foggy, 

 and unwholesome. From e. to s. are most pernicious, blighting, and tem- 

 pestuous; they affect man, bird, beast, and vegetation; nothing exposed can 

 withstand it. Happily its duration is short, seldom continuing above 24 hours. 

 It cuts the herbage down as if fires had been made under them ; the leaves are 

 parched up, and crumble to dust. The fowls are seized with cramps, and never 

 recover; but continue to decline till the whole side is decayed which was first 

 affected. Hogs and pigs are suddenly taken with the staggers, turn round and 

 drop, never to recover. Men are oppressed with a stopped perspiration, heavi- 

 ness at the breast, sore throats ; but they soon get over it, by due care. 



The sea abounds with mullets, and some of a very large size up to 10 pounds 

 weight. Smelts in abundance, and as large as 14 and 15 inches in length; they 

 may be taken with an angling line and rod. Transparent fish, shaped like a pike 

 about the head, but not larger than a herring; these transparent fish are so clear 

 when caught, that you may see through them ; they have no red blood, but 

 when cut a slimy water issues out, which may be their blood. There are 3 or 4 

 species of the common loggerhead, or sculpa fish, common on the English coasts. 

 A small sand-crab, small cray-fish, are to be got. Muscles are plentiful, with 



