238 
AUSTRAL-AFRICAN ISLANDS 
then too appears the scanty vegetation, which ceases, 
however, at a height of from 300 to 450 ft. 
The flora is extremely miserable, embracing only 5 
species of flowering plants, according to the “Challenger” 
observations, and all these are also native to Kerguelen. 
Isolated patches of azorella sometimes attain to a con¬ 
siderable extent, detached pieces of ground are covered 
with a thin covering of grass {Poa Cookii), and even the 
Kerguelen cabbage (Pringlea antiscorbuticd) though it 
grows in tolerable quantity, remains dwarfed. 
By the pools flourishes Callitinche verna in company 
with saxifrages, and Kerguelen pinks [Colobanthus ker- 
guelensis) in some profusion. 
The animal world consists of oceanic species of mam¬ 
mals and birds. Sea-leopards and elephant-seals appear 
to be present here in greater numbers than in the 
Kerguelen Isles, and the remains of their bones lie about 
on the sea-shore everywhere. Of sea-birds, the Cape 
pigeons [Daption capensis) occur in astonishing numbers; 
penguins too are found, and flocks of gulls [^Lartts do 7 nini- 
camis) sit on the neighbouring glaciers. 
The insecta appear to be confined to the flightless 
Kerguelen fly. 
In the neiehboLirhood of Heard Island is situated 
Macdonald Island, whose rocky clifls are inaccessible and 
which has consequently never been explored. 
It cannot surprise us that no nation has as yet laid 
claim to these valueless islands, and they are not likely 
to be annexed in the future. Seal-hunters and whale- 
fishers alone have prospect of return for their arduous 
work. A small number of mariners of American or Por¬ 
tuguese origin visit the islands during the season of 
fair weather to hunt the marine mammals. 
