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141 



which lies to the south of Petre Bay, is low and slightly undu- 

 lating, with occasional hills. For example, on the tract to the 

 north of the bay (to the left of the route from Wangaroa to 

 Wari-kauri) there are three or four conical hills, attaining an 

 elevation of GOO or 700 feet, and composed of basaltic and doleritic 

 rocks, and some lower hills near the sea-coast on the north side 

 of the island. These hills are clothed with bush from top to 

 bottom. The country to the eastward of the G-reat Lagoon is 

 very low, scarcely rising in any part more than 50 feet above the 

 sea-level. The peninsula to the south of Petre Bay is more hilly ; 

 the hills composed principally of basalts and tufas, and presenting, 

 from Jenny Eeef round to Cape Pournier, abrupt escarpments to 

 the sea. The soil is peaty, and is often 50 feet deep. In several 

 parts of the island this peat has been on fire for years, burning 

 at a considerable depth below the surface, which, when sufficiently 

 undermined, caves in, and is consumed. I have seen the loose 

 ashes arising from these fires upwards of 30 feet deep. In one 

 place I noticed, in the burning peat, at the depth of G or 7 feet 

 from the surface of the ground, the trunks of trees of a growth 

 evidently far exceeding any that are now to be found on the 

 islands. I was, I am sorry to say, unable to obtain any speci- 

 mens, in consequence of the great height of the wall of peat and 

 the mass of hot ashes below. The surface-growth (exclusive of 

 bush) consists principally of grasses and sedges, with patches of 

 fern ; but I have little doubt that large numbers of indigenous 

 herbaceous plants have been destroyed, partly by the constant 

 firing of the surface by the natives, and partly by the pigs, cattle, 

 and horses which roam all over it. Nearly the whole coimtry had, 

 m fact, been burnt shortly before my arrival. 



There are at present but few land-birds either on this or on 

 Pitt's Islaiid. Formerly the White Crane {Ilerodias flavirostris) ^ 

 the Bittern {Botaurus melanotus), an Apteryi, said by the 

 Maories to have been identical with a New Zealand species, and 

 also, according to their accounts, a smaller species of the same 

 bird (though I believe this to be the Ballus Dieffenhachii)^ the 

 Weka (Ocydromus australis)^ and the Kakapo (^Strigops hahro- 

 ptilui) were found on both islands, but have become extinct since 

 their invasion by the New Zealanders. Mr. Hunt informed mc 

 that the last time he had seen the Bittern was about three years 

 ftgo. The land-birds now found are a large Palcon, the Pigeon, 

 the Tui or Parson-bird, the Pukeko (Porphyria melanotui)^ the 

 Parrakeet {Platycerctis, N. Z.), the Fantail, the Pihoihoi or Lark, 



