Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xlviii. (1904), No. 23. 9 



crevices of a species of Melobesia which abounded in Roy 

 Cove. Of all these I preserved numbers, and with them 

 some specimens of Arenicoia, probably A. claparadii, but 

 did not examine them very closely when I gathered 

 them. 



The sides of all the estuaries and coves on this portion 

 of the West Falklands are almost fringed with the bushes 

 of the attractive ' Falkland box ' ( Veronica decussata). 

 These beautiful shrubs were in full flower at the time of 

 my visit, and the flowers besides being beautiful possessed 

 a delicate aroma, which was most pleasant, for it perfumed 

 the air for some distance I noticed that several specimens 

 of this box had thin roots and branches submerged more 

 or less in sea-water during the spring tides, but this 

 did not appear to affect them in anyway. Perhaps an 

 occasional wetting in salt-water might act as a fertilizer. 

 This plant is successfully employed as a shelter from 

 the winds, numerous bushes placed closely together 

 forming a splendid hedge in many of the gardens on these 

 islands. Some of the largest specimens of a beautiful 

 fern, Lomaria magellanica, grew in the crevices of these 

 cliffs, some of the fronds being quite three feet or more in 

 length. The roots of these were quite six inches in 

 diameter, and the whole plants vvere vigorous. 



About eight miles to the south-west of Roy Cove is a 

 very pretty land-locked harbour known as Whaler Bay. 

 This spot was another of the great assembling places of the 

 sealers during the first half of the last century. Besides the 

 excellent shelter, there is an abundance of fresh-water to 

 be obtained from a stream flowing into its extremity, and 

 peat can be cut from the hill-sides. Here I spent a pleasant 

 day with Mr. Bertrand, collecting plants and examining 

 the foreshores at low- water. On our way thither, we 

 passed through a very picturesque valley in which grew 



