ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 373 



numerous, and sang very sweetly ; its notes were varied, but approxi- 

 mated more nearly to the song of our blackbird ; occasionally a note 

 or two resembled the lark. Hawks too were numerous, and might 

 be seen on almost all the dead trees, in pairs. Along the sea- 

 coast were to be seen the marks of their ravages upon the smaller 

 birds. The sea-birds were very numerous on the opposite side of the 

 island, setting upon the cliffs or hovering over the islet." 



On the western side of the Auckland Island, the under-brush and 

 young trees are exceedingly thick. Dr. Holmes remarks, that it was 

 impossible to penetrate; that he was occupied fully an hour in 

 making his way for a hundred yards, where to all appearance a 

 human step had never before trodden. There was not a vestige of 

 a track; old trees were strewn about irregularly, sometimes kept 

 erect by the pressure on all sides. Some trees were seen upwards of 

 seventy feet in height, although the generality were only from fifteen 

 to twenty ; every part of the island was densely covered with vege- 

 tation ; the soil, from the decomposition of vegetable matter, had 

 acquired considerable richness ; specimens of all the plants were 

 collected. The botany of these islands is nearly allied to that of 

 New Zealand, and will be found treated of in the Botanical Report, 

 to which I would refer. Some species resembling the tropical plants 

 were found here, viz., the coffeaceous plants. 



These islands have in many places the appearance of having been 

 raised directly from the sea ; the cliffs consisted of basalt, and were 

 generally from fifty to ninety feet perpendicular. 



The Auckland Islands are the resort of whalers for the purpose of 

 refitting and awaiting the whaling season, which occurs here in the 

 months of April and May. Near the watering place a commodious 

 hut has been erected by a French whaler. Near by was another in 

 ruins, and close to it the grave of a French sailor, whose name was 

 inscribed on a wooden cross erected over it. Some attempts at form- 

 ing a garden were observed at one of the points of Sarah's Bosom, and 

 turnips, cabbage, and potatoes, were growing finely, which, if left un- 

 disturbed, will soon cover this portion of the island ; to these a few 

 onions were added. Besides the birds, the only living creature was a 

 small mouse, one of which Dr. Holmes caught : it made no attempt to 

 get out of his way, and seemed to have no fear when taken ; being con- 

 signed to a pocket, he soon contrived to escape. Many of the 

 smaller islands of this group were visited; they closely resemble 



vol. 11. 94 



