portion of vitality they enjoy. The TJsnea fasciata^ Torrey,* is 

 most common. A species of Polytrichum resembhng the alpinum 

 of Lin, one or two lichens and a fucus found in the sea, along the 

 shores — when you add to these ai) occasional plant of a small spe- 

 cies of avena, you complete the botanical catalogue of the islands. 



The only vertebral animals ever observed on these islands are 

 very few in number, and confined to the amphibia carnivora of 

 Cuvier ; all being embraced in the genus Phoca. The P. leonina, 

 Lin. (sea elephant) is the largest of the species, sometimes attain- 

 ing the length of twenty-five feet, and is regularly proportioned. 

 These animals are remarkable for the powerful strength of their 

 jaws. When attacked, and wounded in such a manner as to be un- 

 able to reach the sea, in the struggle, either through agony or rage, 

 they not unfrequently take up considerable sized stones with their 

 mouth, and break them into a number of fragments between their 

 teeth : sometimes they seize upon the lance, breaking it instanta- 

 neously, or else, bending it in such a manner as to render it perfectly 

 useless. The sea leopard is not so large, but is a far more beauti- 

 ful animal. P. vitulina, Lin. (fur-seal.) This beautiful little ani- 



the sealers at the time these islands were first discovered. There 

 is also a fourth species, which I have no recollection of ever see- 

 ing the slightest notice of. It is probably not common, as I saw 

 but one ; it was standing on the extremities of its fore-feet, (flip- 

 pers) the head and chest perfectly erect, abdomen curved and rest- 

 ing on the ground, the tail was also in an upright position : the 

 animal in this attitude bore a striking resemblance to the repre- 

 sentations we frequently meet with of the " mermaid," and I think 

 it was undoubtedly one of the animals of this genus that first gave 

 origin to the fable of the maid of the sea. I regret that I could not 

 obtain a nearer view of this interesting animal. When I approach- 

 ed within one hundred feet, it threw itself flat and made rapidly 

 for the sea : it appeared about twelve or fifteen feet in length, and 

 distinctly more slender in proportion than any of the other species, 

 so much so that the motion of the body when moving seemed per- 

 fectly undulating. Some of the seamen bad seen them frequently 

 on a former voyage, and mentioned that they were known among 

 sealers by the name of sea-serpent, from this circumstance. Some 



que.S^of£'ieL^or7he I' ^!mer!^*' ^"^^^^^ described in conse- 



