On the Voyage from the Falkland Islands to Monte Video. 623 



Of the promontories above mentioned, the one which extends towards 

 th3 west is a lofty mountain rising precipitously from the sea on the 

 N.E. and S.W., and terminating in two peaks. Between these two 

 peaks a glacier descends to the edge of the cliff overhanging the sea on 

 the north-east side, over which the ice-masses fall with a thundering 

 noise. The other promontory or peninsula is covered by a flow of very 

 recent lava, the eddies and ripples on the surface being still quite fresh. 

 This stream of lava proceeds from the base of a recent but much dilapi- 

 dated crater, which having sprung up close to the sea could only have 

 been preserved by renewing its substance with constant eruption. When 

 this ceased, the degrading action of the waves began to tell ; and at pre- 

 sent it is worn into a group of fantastic-looking peaks, the vertical sides 

 of which are marked by the layers of scoria dipping away from the 

 centre. The lava-stream covers the whole of the peninsula, and from 

 having been worn by the waves it forms a range of low black cliffs along 

 the north side of Corinthian Bay. In the face of these cliffs many large 

 cavities, bubbles in the once molten lava, had been opened, and were 

 tenanted by the nesting Cape pigeon. 



The glaciers which cover the whole of the southern side of Corinthian 

 Bay have been prevented from encroaching on the beach at the head of 

 it by a sharp conical hill of scoriae, behind which the ice-covering stretches 

 from sea to sea. 



H.M.S. ' Challenger/ 

 December, 1875. 



[The Tables which accompany this paper are preserved for reference in the Society's 

 Archives. — Sec. E.S.] 



VII. u Report to the Hydrographer of the Admiralty on the 

 Voyage of the ' Challenger } from the Falkland Islands to 

 Montevideo, and a Position in lat. 32° 24' S.,»long. 13° 5' W." 

 By Prof. Wyville Thomson, F.R.S., Director of the Civi- 

 lian Scientific Staff on board. Received May 5, 1876. Bead 



June 15. 



[Plates 25-33.] 



H.M.S. « Challenger,' 

 Ascension, March 1876. 



Sir, — I have the honour to report that we left Stanley Harbour in East- 

 Falkland Island for Monte Video on the afternoon of the 6th of February, 

 and on the 8th we sounded in lat. 48° 37' S., long. 55° 17' W., about 200 

 miles to the N.E. of Stanley, in a depth of 1035 fathoms. The trawl was 

 lowered, but it was unfortunately carried away, after the weights, which 

 were at a distance of 300 fathoms in advance of the trawl, had been 

 brought in board. The rope looked much chafed, as if it had been ground 

 against rocks. The sounding-machine brought up no sample of the 



vol. xxiv. 2 Y 



