BY J. H. MAIDEX. 119 



rather a general character, and its value consists mainly in the 

 map or sketch that accompanies it. 



c. — [End. 1 in No. 12]. Remarks upon Lord Howe Island^ 

 by Capt. H. M. Denham, R.N., F.R.S. Dated 20th 

 August, 1853. 



Not of a botanical character. Refers to the " indigenous- 

 esculent, the Palm Cabbage," and speaks of " a profitable export 

 of that close-grained timber to be found on the slopes, section- 

 specimens of which are herewith presented." Alludes to the 

 importance of wind-breaks. 



d. — [End. 2 in No. 12]. Remarks on the Natural History 

 and Cai^abilities of Lord Howe Island, by John Denis 

 Macdonald, Assistant Surgeon to the Expedition (that of 

 H.M.S. "Herald," Capt. Denham, Exploring Expedition 

 to the South Pacific). 



This consists of nearly four folio pages, and is the most impor- 

 tant of all the documents with which it is associated. He speaks 

 of a strip of land "now covered with tall rank gra.ssanda British 

 cruciferous plant {Senehiera coronojnis).* Insists on the 

 importance of wind-breaks. . . . "Gigantic banyan trees 

 (Ficus indica)i are scattered in groups through the low lands^ 

 and the offsets from each tree are so numerous, and attain so 

 large a size, that it is difficult to define the exact limits of any 

 particular tree, or even point out the primitive trunks. The free 

 extremities of the younger offsets divide into a bundle of 

 rootlets, which ultimately reach and fix themselves in the soil. 

 Cabbage palms grow in the valleys and on the flats, while a 

 remarkable species of pandanus or screw pine flourishes on the 

 sides of the hills. This has received the name of tent treej from 



* Perhaps *S'. didyma, Pers. (Coronojm-i, Sm., but not the*?, coronopiis of 

 Poiret). Although this weed has been found on the island, from my know- 

 ledge of the situation referred to I believe Lepidiiim was really seen. 



t F. coIumnarU. 



i Pandanus For-iferiana. 



