Cockayne. — Botanical Excursion to Southern Islands. 245 



sea-lions lying down upon it and wallowing in the mud, for 

 the comparatively wide tracks of these animals are very nu- 

 merous. Indeed, but for such tracks, in many places churned 

 up into thick mud, progress through this dense forest would 

 be far more difficult. Where the forest-i3oor is not bare 

 numerous I'ounded patches of mosses and liverworts are 

 present, also seedlings of the various trees and shrubs are 

 very common, while Neriera depressa, its stems creeping on 

 the ground, and the species of Uncinia formerly known as 

 U. hookeri, but now referred by Kiikenthal to U. riparia as 

 var. psetidorupestris, are abundant. Here and there are a few 

 plants of Urtica australis and stunted Stilhocarpa polaris. 

 Epilohium linncBoides and Stellaria decipiens are also frequent. 

 As one penetrates further into this forest towards the north 

 the shrubs increase in number, Cassinia vauvilliersii ap- 

 pears, and progress through the dense shrubby growths be- 

 comes extremely difficult. 



The rata forest on Ewing Island is very similar to that 

 just described ; but, if possible, the curious twisted branches 

 of the rata in that portion of the forest visited by me were 

 even more striking. Some of these branches extend for a 

 long distance at right angles to the main stem, others are 

 given off at all kinds of angles and twisted on their axes, 

 the whole mass of branches making a most bewildering net- 

 work. Here, too, the forest-floor is frequently quite bare, no 

 doubt owing to the great numbers of sea-lions, which for- 

 midable-looking creatures were constantly encountered. 



In Erebus Cove, Port Eoss, stands the depot for cast- 

 aways. It was in this neighbourhood that for three years 

 Enderby had his headquarters, and during that period cut 

 down several acres of the forest. In this same locality, so 

 Captain J. Bollons informs me, the early whalers also cut 

 dow^n a considerable number of trees, filling their vessels 

 with wood before proceeding to Campbell Island, where 

 true forests are wanting. Where this extensive clearing 

 was made there is now a dense growth of evergreen shrubs, 

 forming a most beautiful shrubberv of various hues of green. 

 An account of the constituents of this new formation is given 

 further on, when dealing with the effect of introduced ani- 

 mals, &c., on the vegetation. 



The most luxuriant forest that I had an opportunity to 

 examine is that at the head of Norman's Inlet, but, unfor- 

 tunately, only a few minutes were available, it being late in 

 the afternoon when we landed. The position of this forest 

 possibly affords the maximum amount of slielter to be found 

 on Auckland Island, and in consequence the trees are taller 

 than in the more exposed forests, and the interior hygfo- 

 phytic vegetation richer both in quantity and species. A 



