SOTES ON ’CHI PLANTS AND ISSECTS OF KEBGUELES. 53

an Isaria ; but the component cells are large, and the production is not, I think, fungoid.

78. A. (PSILOCYBE) ATRO-RUFUS, Scheff. t. 234. Spores lemon-shaped, .00028 inch long.

KKKC~UE LEN’ s LAND. 79. A. (NAUCORIA) GLEBARUM, B. 1. c. On Azorella, Jan. 18i4.

80. A. (GALERA) HYPNORUM, Batsch. On Azoreila, Jan. 1874. Spores ,0004 inch long.

81. COPRINUS TOMENTOSUS, FT. Bull. t . 1313. On dung, Jan. 1574.

82. PEZIZA KERGUELEXSIS , E . F1. Ant. tab. 164. fig. 3. On the gronnd, Betsy Cove, Royal Sound, Jan. 1874.

XXTTII. Further notes on the Plants of Kerguelen, wi th some re- marks on the Insects. By H. N. MOSELET, M.A., Naturalist to H.M.S. ‘ Challenger.’ (In a Letter addressed to Dr. HOOKEX, Pres. R.S.)

[Read February 4, 1875.1

1 AM very glad that the collectioii of Marion-Island and Kerguelen plants was satisfactory. I found Nitella and the Limosella only iu the lake a t Christmas Harbour. The Limosella I may have over- looked in other places, since it so curiously simulates the linear- leaved aquatic form of the Ranunculus. This linear-leaved form of R. crasskes was extremely abundant a t Betsy Cove, and I gathered inaay specimens. A t the lake a t Christmas Harbour this form is also abundant, and grows mixed with the LimoseZla. Hence in hunting for Limosella without any very definite idea a8 to its appearance, I constantly overlooked it, tliinking all that I saw t o be the aquatic form of the Ranunculus. 1 think there must be some mistake about the aiitarctic species of Ranunculus. Two forins of R. cmssipes appear to hiwe been described as separate species. I think my specitnens may show this. The only other plant besides Linzosella and Nitella which appears to be local in Kerguelen is thc C’ncinio. I found this oiily iii the one spot on Mount Broinley. Tlic Lonzurin +iil)poscd by J 011 t o be rare ill

54 NOTES ON THE PLANTS AND lNSECTS OF KEBGUELEN.

Kerguelen, is enormously abundant in Betsy Cove and about Royal Sound, forming large beds.

The insects we found at Kerguelen were two apterous flies, one as large as a housefly, the other almost as big as a blowfly, an apterous gnat (Czclex) and a winged gnat, a small apterous (or rather very short-winged) moth, two or three beetles (Curculio and Staphylinidze), and three or four spiders (Saltici and a Ti-om- hidhm).

The moth I found crawling upon the beds of the little Juncus. The gnats are to be found about the dead seaweed &c. on the sea- shore. The larger fly nestles at the bases of the leaves of Pringlea, and lays its eggs in the fluid which is caught there. I never found it elsewhere ; but there it is extraordinarily abundant, and every cabbage yielded ten or a dozen specimens. The fly creeps in a slow lazy manner. I am very sorry I did not observi whether it climbs to the inflorescence in sunshiny weather ; perhaps this may be the case. This is an instance of one of those '' neglected opportunities " to which you refer in the ' Flora Antarctica,' as so galling in the retrospect. Even at Heard [ Pong] Island I found the same apterous fly nestling on Pringlea in abundance. Perhaps the two forms have some relation of' mutual benefit.

On one Pringlea plant I found twenty-eight flower-stalks. Three were fresh, of the recent season's growth. The others ap- peared to belong, by their successive amount of decay, to eight preceding seasons. At Christmas Harbour all the Pringlea seed mas unripe, whilst in the inner and sheltered parts of Royal SDund, towards the south of the island, a very large quantity was ripe.

The Leptinella forms immense and luxuriant beds of light bluish green, very conspicuous as seen from seawards on the coast round the rookeries of the shag (Phalacrocorax caruiaculatus), and everywhere thrives and luximiates where the soil is eiiriched by dung. Hence also nearly all the old seal- and sea-elephant rook- eries, so conspicuous from their hummocky appearance, are covered with Leptinebla, which forms a soft bed for the very few o f these beasts which yet remain.

* * * * W e dredged in sight of the Kermadecs all one day; but no

landing was arranged. I was very much disappointed.