1B8 
of the Falkland Islands, it will soon go down before the indirect 
attacks of man, and witli it will be lost at least one insect 
( Calijcopterix moseleyi) which inhabits the heads, and perhaps a 
Teal which is known to feed upon its leaves. What other efl'ects 
upon the fauna and flora of the islands may be the result it is 
impossible to say. Another correspondent in the ‘ Field ’ (p. 52), 
commenting upon Mr. Wright’s letter, “ wonders it did not occur 
to the officers of the ‘Comus’ to take some Eabbits from Hog Island 
and spread them over the other islands of the group.” Happily 
it did not occur to them to do so, and it is to be hoped other 
visitors will be equally forbeaiing ; for if the Kerguelen Eabbits 
should prove twjU to cat, as, from the nature of their food the 
scalers told the Katuralist of the ‘Challenger,’ those found on the 
Crozets are, the iDOor sealers and shipwrecked sailors will have lost 
their antiscorbutic Cabbage, and have receiA'^ed in return Eabbits 
which are useless ; another result of rash attempt at acclimatization. 
It is Avorthy of note that the sealers themselves deprecate these 
experiments, and that they told Mr. Moseley it Avould not be Avell 
to introduce Pigs into the Southern Islands, “ as they Avould destroy 
the birds, the main support of chance castaAvay mariners ” (‘ Notes 
b}'- a Naturalist on the ‘ Challenger,’ ’ p. 183).*' 
* With great satisfaction I learn from a subsequent letter addressed 
l)y Mr. Wright to the ‘Field’ (Feb. 5, 1881, p. 159), that the Primjlca 
anti-scorhutica on Kerguelen Island had not been at the time of the 
‘Comus’ visit a])preciably affected by the Rabbits; although “in some 
places the Cabbage gardens,” says Mr. Wright, “are completely honey- 
combed Avith Rabbit burroAvs,” little or no injury appeared to him to have 
been inflicted upon the plants. The Rabbits did not seem to relish the 
plant, and only nibbled it occasionally. Mr. Wright also describes tlie 
Rabbits as “fat and in good condition,” and not differing in taste from 
English Rabbits ; the Pringlea, on the other hand, he considers “at best 
but a nauseous and bitter vegetable.” No doubt the luxurious manner in 
which the tables of H.M. ships arc supplied with tinned provisions in tlie 
present day, may in some measure account for the different estimates formed 
of this vegetable by Dr. Hooker and Mr. Wright ; but I fear the sealers 
Avho visit these islands are not equally fortunate Avith the officers of the 
‘ Comus,’ and their appreciation of the Cabbage may be affected accordingl 3 ^ 
Whether the Pringlea Avill long Avithstand the honey-combing process, or 
tlie Rabbits, Avhich appear to be increasing so rapidly in number, still 
maintain their distaste for its leaves, or even deteriorate like those of the 
Crozets, remains to be proved ; but I cannot help regarding these “ rash 
attempts at acclimatization” Avitli extreme disfavour. 
