Papers. 23 



The soils of the Southern Islands are the very antithesis of those of 

 'Central Otago, but even here the flora is being slowly changed by imported 

 animals. On Auckland Island, in November, 1907, at Flat-topped Moun- 

 tain, Carnley Harbour, and above the scrub-line, pigs had eaten freely of 

 Pleuwphyllum Hookeri (family Compositae), having grubbed up the plant 

 to get at the rootstock. At Port Ross, Auckland Island, in January, 1909. 

 at 1,100 ft. numerous pig-tracks were observed, and Pleurophyllum specio- 

 sum appeared to have been eaten out on all stations but inaccessible rock- 

 faces. At Enderby Island the cattle had considerably cut up the bush, 

 but their greatest effect Avas noticeable on the tussocks of Poa littorosa, a 

 .grass which is evidently being exterminated at that habitat. At Camp- 

 bell Island, which is inhabited and farmed as a sheep-run, the Stilbocarpa 

 polaris (family Araliaceae) is being eaten out by sheep. On the other hand, 

 there are no pigs, as at Auckland Island, to attack the Bulhinetta Rossii* 

 (family Liliaceae), which is spreading at an alarming rate. On the " burn," 

 under the " Judge's Chair," at 725 ft. the Dracophyllum scoparium and 

 D. longijolium are being replaced by Poa littorosa and Bulbinella Rossii. In 

 <>ne paddock near the wool-shed at Perseverance Harbour the flora con- 

 sisted solely of a thick mass of Bulbinella Rossii — a magnificent sight. 



The important family Leguminosae is sparsely represented in New Zea- 

 land. Horses are fond of chewing the taller species of Carmichaelia. It 

 would be interesting to learn whether the dwarf species are diminishing 

 owing to the attacks of rabbits in the more arid parts. 



Sheep, and to a less degree cattle, frequently eat the smaller species of 

 tutu (Coriaria. family Coriariacae), though it is not likely that they appre- 

 ciably affect its abundance. Fern (Pteris aquilina, family Filices) is kept 

 in check by close feeding by cattle. Both of these are. instances of plants 

 which under certain conditions may have a poisonous effect on stock, serv- 

 ing as part of a regular ration. The hinahina (Melicytus raw/iflorus) has 

 been suspected of injuriously affecting stock at Catlin's (Otago), but definite 

 information is wanting. 



Cattle and sheep, though having their preferences, will eat most ferns, 

 any shrubs, and seedlings of forest-trees when food is scarce. In small 

 isolated clumps of bush the undergrowth is sometimes completely destroyed. 



Omitting the grasses, the native plants which find most favour with 

 herbiverous animals would appear to be those belonging to the families 

 Cruciferae, Umbelliferae, Araliaceae, Violaceae, Malvaceae, Tiliaceae, Rubi- 

 aceae, Primulaceae. Leguminosae, and Chenopodiaceae ; Juncaceae and 

 Cyperaceae contain genera (Juncus, Luzula, and Mariscus) species of which 

 •are often devoured by stock ; Compositae and Liliaceae contain some species 

 which are often browsed. 



There are doubtless other non-poisonous native plants which supply 

 either normally or in times of scarcity food for animals, and the author 

 would be extremely obliged if other observers would publish or communi- 

 cate to him any facts which will throw further light on the subject. 



Very little has been recorded in the past on the subject of this paper. 

 An interesting article on " The Displacement of Species in New Zealand," 

 by the late T. Bark (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 28, p. 17) gives a general account 

 of the naturalization of many forms of life and the probable effect on the 

 indigenous forms. Of special interest under the title of this paper are the 



* Although the Bulbinella does not seem to be relished by sheep or cattle, the allied 

 liliaceous plants Phormium and Oordyline are eaten on the mainland by cattle. 



