FAUNA AISTD FLORA OF THE FALKLAJSTOS, 347 



species of Lessonice and jyurviUcB^ and one of Macrocystis are 

 included. The two former sea- weeds flourish along the shores of 

 the open ocean, where they are swayed about in the surge ; while 

 the latter luxuriates in the many sheltered fiords, where it grows 

 to an almost incredible length. 



Three objects that always attracts attention on these islands 

 are the " Tussock Grrass " (Bactylis ccdspitosaj the " Bog Balsam" 

 {Bolax glebarixi) and the " Stone E-ivers," all adequately described 

 in the "Challenger" publications. 



A rough sketch of my daily life at Stanley may not be devoid 

 of interest to those whose travels have not taken them to such a 

 remote corner of the globe. My invariable plan was to look out 

 about 5 a.m., and if the weather seemed at all favourable, I 

 usually managed to get afloat in about half-an-hour ; for I soon 

 discovered that, provided there was little or no wind, I could 

 collect before breakfast sufficient material to keep me fully em- 

 ployed till lunch-time. Some of these early mornings were 

 singularly beautiful ; the reflections of the vessels at anchor and 

 the surrounding hills being perfectly reproduced on the calm sur- 

 face of the water. At this hour the air was invariably cool, and 

 after dipping medusae from the surface of the sea for twenty 

 minutes, a spell at the oars would be necessary to restore circu- 

 lation. Examining the fronds and roots of Macrocystis for 

 specimens was always cold work ; and some of the tangled roots 

 were so large that I found it quite impossible to lift them into my 

 boat for closer examination. Care had to be exercised during 

 this work, for a capsize into a bed of Macrocystis, even if one 

 could withstand the sudden shock of the icy water, would prob- 

 ably end fatally ; the stems and fronds forming an almost 

 impenetrable barrier between the swimmer and the shore. One 

 haul with a tow-net or a small shrimp trawl, followed by a sharp 

 and welcome row home to my moorings would terminate the cruise. 

 Low-water spring tides invariably occurred from 11 to 11.30 ; so 

 provided it was fine, one could examine and presei've the collec- 

 tions made before breakfast previous to starting shore-collecting. 

 Gathering specimens within tidal limits was at times very trying ; 

 the wind wou^ld most probably be blowing, and as my hands were 

 always more or less constantly wet turning over stones, and 

 exploring the contents of the tidal pools, I never really relished 



