6 
J. G. ANDERSSON, 
(Schwed. Südpolar-Exp. 
The climate of the Falkland Islands is in temperature typically maritime; from 
the annual average of 6.i centigrade the mean of the warmest month, January, rises 
only to 9.8, the medium of the coldest, July, being 2.5. The severest cold observed 
during the three years 1875 — 77 was — 7.3. The annual precipitation is 517 mm. 
(mean of 1875 — 77). Snow often falls in wintertime, but the snowcover never lasts 
very long; in general it is in some few days turned into »black weather». 
A characteristic feature of the Falkland climate is the frequence of strong winds 
and violent gales. The climate is most capricious too: sudden and dangerous 
storms can be expected at any time, and squalls intermingled with short durations of 
sunshine is a common type of weather. 
This humid and cloudy climate has caused a growth of peat that is rather 
surprising. The peat grows not only in the depressions but also in many cases on 
the gentle slopes and on the flat tops of the hills. As a consequence of the profuse 
formation of peat the ground is very boggy and treacherous to the traveller, but 
on the other hand the peat supplies the fuel that makes these poor and woodless 
islands habitable. 
The complete lack of trees is a most striking feature of the flora of the Falk- 
land Islands, only a low and scanty bush in some localities giving a slight indica- 
tion of woody vegetation. The drier land between the numerous and vast peat- 
bogs forms a poor grass-steppe and the very driest spots are heaths covered by 
Empetrum nibi'uni. In earlier times the islands had at the coast a fringe of the 
robust tussock-grass, that is now restricted to the small islets, where the sheep can- 
not reach it. 
Stratigraphical and tectonic outlines. 
As clearly described already by Darwin, the main formation of the Falkland 
Islands is a mighty sandstone series. 
The low land consists chiefly of yellowish, mostly flne-grained, often micaceous 
sandstone with intercalations of clay-slate. Some layers of the sandstone are crowded 
with marine fossils. 
Above the low undulating land rise in East Falkland Island some mountain- 
ridges consisting of hard quartzite and striking chiefly E. — W. The principal 
of these ridges is named the Wickham Heights and runs in the main strictly 
E. — Wk, but west of its highest summit. Mount Usborne, it seems to turn to 
a WNW. strike. N. as well as S. of the Wickham Heights between Berkelej" 
Sound in the north and Choiseul Sound in the south there run other smaller 
quartzite ridges parallel to the large one. In this region where the strike of the 
rock is so uniformly E. — W. all the bays run in the same direction (cf. p. 4). 
This can be clearly seen for instance round Stanley Harbour, which is limited to the 
