250 Transactions. 



clifi, having been apparently carried there by the sea. Along the top of this 

 cliff — and, indeed, for the greater part of the southern side of the island — 

 practically no serubs grow. The association is a low-growing one, chiefly con- 

 sisting of Poa Astoni, which covers the ground almost as a sward. Among 

 this grow numerous large, succulent plants of Myosotis alhicla, much of it in 

 flower, but still with many buds. Round cushions of Gentiana saxosa from 

 10 cm. to 15 cm. in diameter are common. Apium prostratum is also scattered 

 about, while Selliera radicans and Crassula moschata cling to the rocky sur- 

 face in parts. Here also I noticed one patch of Anisotome intermedia (?) about 

 2-5 m. in diameter, and a common sedge, probably Scirpus aucklandicus, is 

 also dotted about. In places low bushes of Olearia angustifolia also grow, and 

 in their shelter Blechnum durum and Asplenium lucidum are sparingly found. 

 On the brow of the cliff hang screens of Mesemhryanthemiim australe in full 

 bloom, and Tetragonia trigyna in flower also sprawls over the surface. Here 

 and there Carex trifida grows strongly, with patches of Anisotome inter- 

 media {'I). On the level top, where the peat is deeper, there is a consider- 

 able patch of Poa foliosa, dotted throughout with isolated plants of Lepidium 

 oleraceum var. aciitidentatum. Senecio lautus and Sonchus littoralis were 

 also noted. The above grass is in strong tussock form, aboiit 80 cm. high, 

 with a stem-like base of more or less decayed leaves, and the peat between 

 the tussocks is everywhere full of mutton-bird burrows. 



(2.) Introduced Plants. 



Near the mutton-birders' huts a few introduced grasses and weeds 

 grow, also some Phormium tenax, the latter probably planted by the 

 Maoris on account of its useful qualities. 



The Remaining Islands. 



The other islands of the group, except one, are quite small, being only 

 about 30 m. to 40 m. in diameter. I did not land on them, but passed close 

 along shore in a boat, thus securing a good view of their general plant for- 

 mations. The small islands have their summits and more level parts 

 covered with Olearia angustifolia, mixed here and there with 0. Colensoi. 



The cliff-sides are covered with Poa Astoni, with here and there small 

 patches of P. foliosa where the exposure is too much for the scrub forma- 

 tion. Veronica elliptica. clings sparingly to the rocks, and in the sheltered 

 places Stilhocarpa Lyallii can be seen. The largest of these other islands, 

 known as King's Island, or Kaihuka, has, so far as I might judge, much 

 the same covering as Breaksea Island, the associations of which are, I 

 thinly, fairly typical of the exposed situations throughout the whole group. 



Conclusions. 



The facts of most importance gathered on m}^ visit are those connected 

 with the distribution of the plants in their relation to soil and climate. 

 Olearia angustifolia seems to' be par excellence the plant of the exposed sea- 

 shore on all these islands. Sfilbocarpa owes its position to the wind-still 

 atmosphere of the interior of the forest and the rich soil of the bird-manured 

 areas. The wind-resisting powers of Poa foliosa are well known, and there 

 can be little doubt that both it and Stilhocarpa confer great benefit on th.Q 

 birds for nesting purposes, and in turn receive assistance from the increased 

 nutrition of the bird-droppings. 



