Respecting the Zoology of these islands, Mr. McCormick observes 'there is no species of land animal, with the exception of the domestic pig introduced several years ago in the island by Captain Bristow.' Their food consists of the arabia polaris, described by Dr. Hooker as 'one of the most beautiful and singular of the vegetable productions of the island it inhabits; growing in large orbicular masses on rocks and banks near the sea, or amongst the dense and gloomy vegetation of the woods. Its copious bright green foliage and large umbels of waxy flowers have a most striking appearance.'[1] 'The whole plant,' he adds, 'has a heavy and rather disagreeable smell, common to many of its natural order, but it is nevertheless greedily eaten by goats, pigs, and rabbits. It is so abundant in marshy spots that these animals frequently live entirely amongst it, particularly when it grows near the margin of the woods, where they form broad tracks through the patches, grubbing up the roots to a great extent, and, by trampling down the soft stems and leaves, make soft and warm places for themselves to litter in. One of these animals was shot by Mr. Hallett, and, although in poor condition, its flesh was considered well flavoured, though by no means equal to that of our own well-fed pigs.'
Laurie Harbour and the north part of the island are thus described in the narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition in the ship 'Porpoise,' dated 7th March, 1840:—
'On the 7th we anchored in the harbour of Sarah's Bosom, in twelve fathoms water. During our brief stay here, all were actively employed wooding and watering, for which this harbour affords a fine opportunity. Assistant-Surgeon Holmes made several excursions on the largest island, of which he gives the following account:—"I found it very thickly covered with trees in its less elevated parts. As few of them were of any size, I found no small
