Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/156

82 productions, it seems to have but a small number of plants, and some of these peculiar to the island; showing that since the successive overflowings of volcanic matter destroyed the forests which at one period clothed this land, of which the fossil trees and numerous beds of coal afford abundant proof, it appears to have remained in a state of almost vegetable desolation, and well deserves the name bestowed on it by Captain Cook. When he visited it in the height of summer, the land was covered with snow, and only five plants in flower were collected. In the depth of winter the climate seemed to be but little different—the thermometer during our stay seldom descending below the freezing point, and the snow never remaining on the lower grounds beyond two or three days at a time.

The following observations are by Dr. Hooker, the Assistant Surgeon of the Erebus, an able and zealous botanist, and to whom science is indebted for the very important and valuable work he is now publishing, under the title of "Flora Antarctica," of which several numbers have already appeared, and which, when complete, will comprise an account of all the plants collected during the expedition. The liberal grant of 1000l. from the Government will enable him to give drawings and dissections of all the hitherto undescribed plants, amounting to upwards of five hundred. To this work I must refer the scientific botanist for any further information he may require.