BOTANY. 
Observations on the Botany op Kerguelen Island. By J. B. Booker, B.E.S. 
The history of the botany of Kerguelen Island (also called Kerguelen’s Land, and 
Desolation Island), previous to the visit of the Bov. Mr. Eaton, the last and most com- 
plete explorer of its flora, is a vei’y brief one. It commences with the visit of Capt. 
Cook diu'ing his third voyage, in the narrative of which the vegetation of the island 
is thus described by Mr. Anderson, the surgeon of the “ Resolution : ” “ Perhaps no 
place hitherto discovered in either hemisphere, under the same parallel of latitude, 
“ affords so scanty a field for the naturalist as this barren spot. The verdure which 
“ appears, when at a little distance from the shore, would flatter one with the expec- 
“ tation of meeting with some herbage ; hut in this we Avcrc much deceived. Eor 
“ on landing we discovered that this lively colour was occasioned only by one small 
plant, not much unlike some sorts of Saxifrage, Avhich grows in large spi’eading 
tufts, to a considerable way up the hills.” Mr. Anderson proceeds then to give 
some particulars of this plant {Azorella Selago, Ilk. f.), of the cabbage {Bringlea 
antiscorhutica, Br.), of tAvo small plants foimd in boggy places, Avhich AAcre eaten as 
salad, one “ almost like garden cress and very fiery ” (probably Ranunculus crassipes, 
Hk. f.), the other very mild and “ having not only male and female, but Avhat bota- 
“ nists call androgynotis plants ” (? Callitriche). He adds to these a coarse grass 
{Boa Cookii, Ilk. f.), and a smaller sort Avhich is rarer (probably Beschampsia 
antarctica, Hk.) ; a sort of goose-grass (? Cotula plimiosa, Ilk. f.), and another 
small plant much like it (this I do not recognise). “ In short,” he says, “ the whole 
“ catalogue of plants does not exceed IG or 18, including some sorts of moss and a 
“ beautiful Lichen ” {Neuropogon Taylori, Ilk. f.) “ Avhich grows liigher upon the 
“ rocks than the rest of the A'cgetable productions. Kor is there the least appear- 
“ ance of a shrub in the whole country.” 
The date of Cook’s visit was the summer of 1776, and the sjiecimcns obtained by 
Mr. Anderson Avere deposited in Sir Joseph Banks’ Hei'harium, which subsequently 
became the propeiTy of the nation, and is preserved in the British Museum. Not 
having been poisoned, all the Kerguelen Island plants Averc, when I examined them 
in 1843, much injured by insects, and many were entirely destroyed. 
From 1776 till 1840, when the Antarctic Expedition under Capt. (afterwards 
Admiral Sir James) Ross, anchored in Christmas Harbour, Kerguelen Island is not 
known to have been visited by any ship of war, or by the Discovery or Surveying 
ships of any nation, though it had become the frequent resort of English and 
