78 Miscellaneous. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On the Fauna and Flora of Kerguelen's Island. (A letter addressed 

 to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.) By M. Lanen. 



Capetown, Feb. 22, 1875. 



I have the honour to transmit to you an article from a Capetown 

 newspaper containing some interesting information on the fauna and 

 flora of Kerguelen's Island, communicated by Dr. Kidder, a naturalist 

 attached to the American Expedition for observing the transit of 

 Venus on that island. 



From Dr. Kidder's investigations it appears that there exists on 

 Kerguelen's Island only one species of bird which is not web-footed ; 

 this is the sheathbill (Chionis alba) ; it feeds on the shell-fish and 

 sea- weeds left on the shore by the tide. On the other hand, aquatic 

 birds are very numerous. The green-winged teal is found in great 

 abundance ; its flavour is exquisite. Among the sea-birds observed 

 are • — 17 species of petrel ; 2 of albatross ; 3 penguins ; and a very 

 large variety of Lestris catarrhactes, which, although web-footed, 

 feeds only on birds and eggs. 



The insects are very few. Some wingless Diptera and red Acri- 

 didse are found on the leaves of the cabbage. The only Invertebrata 

 provided with wings which have been discovered by Dr. Kidder are 

 various species of Coleoptera ; he has seen neither Hymenoptera, 

 Hemiptera, nor Diptera. 



There are neither Reptilia nor Batrachia, but a great many Crus- 

 tacea and a few Gasteropoda. 



Only one species of fish has been found in the lakes. It seems to 

 belong to the family Gadida?, but is of small dimensions. 



The class Mammalia is scarcely represented at Kerguelen. The 

 sole mammal (not amphibious) met with is the common mouse, 

 which was doubtless introduced from some vessel. As regards am- 

 phibia — seals, sea-elephants, sea-leopards, sea-lions, &c, which 

 formerly abounded there, have been so hunted by the American 

 whalers that they have become very scarce. 



The flora of the island is poor but singular ; some of the plants 

 which grow there are met with in no other part — among others 

 Lyallia Jcerguelensis (the only species of a genus incertce sedis), Colo- 

 hanthus Jcerguelensis, and Triodia Jcerguelensis. The Kerguelen cab- 

 bage and tea-plant (Pringlea antiscorbutica and Accena affinis) offer 

 to seamen a valuable remedy against scurv} 7 . Dr. Kidder has dis- 

 covered some plants not described in Dr. Hooker's work published 

 after his exploration in the years 1839 to 1841. He brings from 

 Kerguelen 28 boxes of botanical specimens. 



The Kev. Mr. Eaton (naturalist to the English Expedition) and 

 Dr. Naumann (naturalist to the German Expedition) will, no doubt, 

 make a more complete collection ; for they will prolong their stay 

 several months. 



