360 FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE FALKLANDS. 



We left Montevideo that evening, the 24th, and shaped our 

 course to St. Vincent, our next coaling station. The barometer 

 was inclined to rise a little during that evening being 30' 10. 



The surface temperature of the sea rose rapidly after we 

 left our anchorage, being 70-3°r. in 34°19'S., 53°23'W., and at 

 sunset on the same day 73°F. ; the temperature of the air at the 

 same time being 71"9°r. 



The following three days were mild, with fresh easterly 

 winds, heavy seas constantly washing over the vessel. The 

 morning of the 28th was fine, bright, and calm, and we were 

 once more able to resume our walks along the decks, enjoy the 

 sunshine, and almost live in the open air. At noon on this day, 

 when I could resume taking surface temperatures, a still further 

 rise was noticed, 80-6°F. being recorded in 27°16'S., 45°27'W., 

 and during that afternoon we steamed through large patches of 

 discoloured water which microscopical examination shewed to be 

 full of the same Trichodesmium as was seen during the outward 

 voyage. 



This species of alga must extend over a vast area along the 

 coast of South America, for I found it present in all my gather- 

 ings till we reach 21°52'S., after which no more was seen. 



On 1st March the surface temperature of the sea at noon 

 was 79'3°F., the position of the ship being at that time 

 24°26'S., 42°59'W. At sunset the surface temperature had 

 fallen to 75°F. The next day, the 2nd, at noon in 21°52'S., 

 40°3r"W., the surface temperature was only 76°F., but at sun- 

 down it had risen to 81*6°F., the temperature of the air at the 

 same time being only 79'6°F. During the previous few days we 

 experienced north-easterly winds of varying force, a most 

 unusual circumstance so far south of the equator. 



The first Portuguese man-of-war {Pliysalia) was seen in Lat-. 

 21°52 S., and for some time later these beautiful siphonophores 

 formed one of the commonest objects on the sea. I was 

 astonished to notice that about 90'^/^ of these had their 

 pneumatophores coloured orange instead of violet, a most unusual 

 variation I believe. With these medusse were shoals of flying- 

 fish, which seemed to be present in thousands. It was most 



