142 Transactions. — Botany. 



higher and more perpendicular, with numerous huge caves, into 

 which the seas broke with a deep hollow roar. Bounding the 

 next point we entered a deep bay, that almost cuts the island 

 into two, and in which we obtained good shelter from the heavy 

 easterly swell running outside. We anchored about a quarter of 

 a mile from the shore, the depth being about 18 fathoms, and 

 shortly afterwards landed with comparatively little difficulty at 

 the head of the bay, on a rough boulder beacb, everywhere 

 encumbered with large masses of rock that had fallen from the 

 cliffs above. 



The cliff at the head of the bay is at least 350 feet high at its 

 lowest point, and the climb to the top, although by no means 

 difficult, was steep and rugged. The first plants noticed after 

 leaving the beach were well-known maritime species, such as the 

 ice-plant (Mesetribryanthemum australe), the wild celery [Apium 

 austral e), Spergularia rubra, Senecio lautus, Lobelia anceps, Isolepis 

 nodosa, etc. Scrambling among the rocks were large masses of 

 Sicyos angulatus, and the pretty white-flowered Angelica rosafolia. 

 A little higher up, clumps of dwarf tea-tree were passed through, 

 alternating with patches of flax (Phormium tena.r) and toetoe 

 grass (Arundo conspicua). A few small trees of the rare Pisonia 

 umbellifera were noticed, one of them covered with the viscid 

 seed-vessels that so often catch small birds, such as the white- 

 eye or fan-tail, that are so unfortunate as to touch them. Here, 

 too, a handsome new Pittosporum was gathered, allied to the 

 karo (P. crassifolium) and to P. umbellatum. It differs from the 

 first in the broader fiat leaves, which are quite glabrous when 

 mature, and from the second in the fewer flowers and very 

 differently shaped seed-vessels. It has ornamental foliage, and 

 its mode of growth is neat and compact, so that it will prove an 

 acceptable addition to our gardens. I have named it Pitto- 

 sporum J'airc/iildi, in honour of the well-known commander of the 

 Stella. Two other shrubs deserve mention : Hymenanthera 

 latifolia, a scarce plant in New Zealand, except on outlying 

 islands of similar character to the Three Kings, but of common 

 occurrence in Norfolk Island ; and the glossy-leaved Coprosma 

 baueriana, so very plentiful on maritime rocks all round the 

 North Island. On some rocky ledges near the top of the cliffs 

 a handsome fern new to New Zealand was collected. It belongs 

 to the genus Davallia, and is probably a variety of the well- 

 known Australian and Norfolk Island D. pyxidata. It was after- 

 wards found to be plentiful over the greater part of the island. 

 Beaching the top of the cliff, we found ourselves only a short 

 distance from the head of another bay, stretching in from the 

 south side, and which, with the one we had left, very nearly 

 divides the island into two. As we had not time to explore 

 both portions, a start was made for the highest peak, which is 

 situated in the north-western half of the island. 



