

Voyage of Capt Sir James C. Ross to the Antarctic. 319 



ions with it. The superincumbent rock is amygdaloidal green- 

 stone. Coal and fossil wood were found in various parts of the 

 island. Along the basaltic hills the quantity of ruins was enor- 

 mous, "forming in some places a steep slope of three hundred to 

 fire hundred feet down to the black edge of basalt on which the 

 sea breaks." 



The vegetation is scanty and is described in Hooker's Flora 

 Antarctica; it is decidedly antarctic. At a little distance the 

 island appears sterile ; but on nearing the shores a belt of green 

 grass is seen to be succeeded by an umbelliferous plant similar 

 to the Bolax or " Balsam Bog" of the Falkland Island. Higher 

 on the hills the vegetation exists only in scattered tufts, and al- 

 most ceases at an elevation of one thousand to twelve hundred 

 feet. About one hundred and fifty species of plants were observed 

 HI all, eighteen flowering plants, three ferns, twenty-five mosses, 

 ten Jungermannia, one fungus, the rest lichens and sea-weeds. 

 The cabbage plant {Pringlea antiscorbutica) appears to be pecu- 

 liar to this island. It was discovered during Capt. Cook's voy- 

 age and has proved a highly important vegetable, especially to 

 seamen ; it resembles the common cabbage, but contains a large 

 proportion of essential oil which is said to be highly beneficial. 

 It abounds near the sea and ascends to the summits of the hills. 

 The heads are as large as a good cabbage lettuce. The root 

 tastes like horse-radish, and the young leaves or heart, like coarse 

 mustard or cress. The crews of the Erebus and Terror for one 

 hundred and thirty days required no fresh vegetables but this, and 

 for nine weeks it was regularly servea out with the salt beef and 

 pork, and during this time there was no sickness on board. Al- 

 though Kerguelen Island is now destitute even of a shrub, the 



abundance of fossil wood proves that it was once covered with 

 trees. 



There are on the island two species of grass affording nutritious 

 fodder for goats, sheep and pigs, but there are no land animals. 

 Sheep landed by navigators throve wonderfully. The sea-ele- 

 phants* and other seals formerly very numerous and constantly 

 hunted, are nearly exterminated. 



The whale fishery is prosecuted by many hundreds of ships 

 along these shores. Edible fishes are abundant and many new 



species were found. 



Fifteen species of sea-fowl were shot, petrel, penguii gull, 

 duck, tern, cormorant, albatross, &c. This is a favorite breeding 

 place for the sooty albatross ; although late in the season, several 

 full fledged young birds were met with ready to commei ) their 

 long flight over the Antarctic seas. Ducks wer furnished in 

 abundance for the table. The penguins although strong to the 

 taste, made a rich soup resembling that of the hare. 





See the Geology of the voyage, by Dr. Richardson and J. E. Gray, Esq, 



