Cockayne. — Botanical Excursion to Southern Islands. 305 



(d.) Campbell Island, 



Here sheep-farming is an accomplished fact. My notes, 

 in consequence, afford some clue as to the effect that sheep 

 and fires have on an absolutely virgin vegetation, which has 

 existed for ages without having been exposed to either of 

 these factors. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any 

 list of the introduced plants; but the presence of these hardly 

 affects my results, since there are iew, if any, introduced 

 plants at the higher levels where my notes were taken. At 

 the time of the visit of Captain Norman six oaks, six elms, 

 and one ash-tree were planted. Three pigs, some game and 

 guinea fowls were at the same time landed at the head of 

 Perseverance Harbour. The pigs and, 1 presume, none of the 

 other animals have been seen there for the past twenty 

 years. In 1890, according to Captain Bollons, sheep and 

 goats were landed ; the sheep died off, but probably two or 

 three goats remain. In 1896 the sheep-farming was com- 

 menced. Only a few sheep were brought at first, but these 

 have been frequently added to ; they have also increased by 

 natural means, and now there are about 4,500 on the island. 

 Burning has also been largely resorted to in order to get rid 

 of the scrub and make travelling more easy both for the sheep 

 and the shepherds. 



Now, it is obvious that at first the sheep would be con- 

 fined to comparatively small areas, and that a small number 

 would affect the vegetation to an equal degree as quite a large 

 number would if these latter were equally distributed over the 

 whole island. Even now the 4,500 sheep do not roam over 

 more than half the surface of the island, and still less than 

 that if we take into account the scrub, gullies filled with scrub, 

 patches without new vegetation where burning or overstocking 

 has taken place, debris -sloipes, and rocks. Consequently the 

 sheep exert almost a maximum influence upon the plant- 

 formations. There are certain plants of which the sheep are 

 especially fond. These are Danthonia hromoides, Pleuro- 

 phylkim speciosum, Ligasticum latlfolium, and Stilhocarpa 

 polaris. Pleurophyllum liookeri is eaten to some extent; and 

 so, of course, are the various small grasses and the " silver- 

 tussock.'' Celmisia verincosa, Cel. chapmanni, and Bulhinella 

 rossii are not touched.''' 



The lower tussock meadow formerly contained vast quanti- 

 ties of Pleurophyllum speciosum. This the sheep devour most 

 greedily, eating right down into the plant almost to the root- 

 stock. On the slopes of Mount Honey were hundreds of 

 plants, the leaf-rosettes eaten quite away, the remains of the 

 dead plant looking not unlike the nest of a bird. In some 



* From information supplied by Mr. J. Gordon. 

 20— Trans. 



