222 HABITAT OF PATELLA EERMADECEN SIS, PILSBRY, 



sufficient to set the matter at rest, I threw aside what I had 

 written. Unfortunately I did not then notice a subsequent 

 communication from Mr. Brazier printed in the same number 

 (p. 566), in which, while granting that Patella kermadecensis 

 might have been collected at Macaula}^ Island, one of the smaller 

 islands of the group, he still declined to admit its nativity in 

 Sunday Island. Perhaps I may now be allowed to mention what 

 must be regarded as conclusive evidence on the point. 



In July, 1887, the New Zealand Government despatched the 

 steamer " Stella " to the Kermadec Islands for the purpose of 

 annexing them to the colony, and I was kindly granted permis- 

 sion to accompany the expedition. My time was mostly given to 

 an examination of the botany of the group; but while engaged in 

 this work I was able to pay some attention to the fauna. We 

 first landed on Sunday Island on the north side, and I then 

 noticed (as in fact all the members of our party did) that the 

 rocks in the vicinity of the landing place were covered with large 

 limpets, four or five inches in diameter. Attempts were made to 

 collect some of them, but they could not be reached from the 

 boat, and the violent surf breaking on the rocks made it impos- 

 sible to get at them from the shore. Two days later, we landed 

 at Boat Cove, on the eastern shore of the island. In this locality 

 the limpets were even still more plentiful, and as it was low water at 

 the time I was able to knock several off the rocks with a spade. 

 While I was on shore botanising our boatmen collected quite a 

 large number, most of which were given to me. The next day 

 they were seen in profusion on Meyer Island, an outlying rock 

 on the north side of Sunday Island. In short, we noticed them 

 on every part of the coast that was at all suitable; and I have no 

 hesitation in saying that in calm weather it would be quite pos- 

 sible to load a small vessel with them, so numerous are they. 

 Afterwards, we found that they were equally plentiful on the shore 

 of Macaulay Island and the other small islands of the group. 



Soon after my return to Auckland, I forwarded specimens to 

 several of the New Zealand Museums, and to private collectors, 

 both in New Zealand and abroad. Among others, several 



