162 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



linear leaves, from one to three feet long. The trunks usually are 

 about five to ten feet long, as thick, as the human thigh, rather con- 

 tracted at the very base, and again diminishing upwards. The indivi- 

 dual plants are attached in groups or solitary, but gregarious like the 

 pine or oak, extending over a very considerable surface, so as to form a 

 miniature forest, which is entirely submerged during high- water or even 

 half- tide, but whose topmost branches project above the surface at the 

 ebb. To sail in a boat over these groves on a calm day, affords the 

 naturalist a delightful recreation ; for he may there witness, in the An- 

 tarctic regions, and below the surface of the ocean, as busy a scene as 

 is presented by the coral reefs of the tropics. The leaves of the Les- 

 sonia are crowded with Sertularice and Mollusca, or encrusted with 

 Flustrce ; on the trunks parasitic Algse abound, together with Chitons, 

 Patellce, and other shells ; at the bases and among the tangled roots 

 swarm thousands of Crustacea and Radiata, whilst fish of several species 

 dart among the leaves and branches." 



And the same author adds that 



" The ignorant observer at once takes the trunks of Lessonla^'' washed 

 up on the beach, " for pieces of drift-wood ;" mentioning, that " on one 

 occasion, no persuasion could prevent the captain of a brig from em- 

 ploying his boat and boat's crew, during two bitterly cold days, in col- 

 lecting this incombustible weed for fuel." 



On the sandy beach at the eastern end of the harbour a 

 variety of Alga3 were strewn, together with a few Molluscs, 

 principally characteristic Magellanic forms, but including one 

 small bivalve that I never met with in the Strait. This 

 was the Cyamium antarcticum of Philippi, and occurred in 

 numerous small clusters, connected together by a sort of 

 byssus. Numbers of a beautiful little Gymnophthalmatous 

 Acaleph were also lying on the sand. I saw many steamer- 

 ducks, which were most amusingly tame, sitting watching 

 me with an air of grave consideration, until I had approached 

 within a few yards of them, when they would waddle down 

 the beach, or tumble their great heavy bodies into the water, 

 and then steam off to a safe distance, uttering their strange 



