102 JOUllXAL OF THE ARXOLD ARBORETrM [vol. i 



and erosion. Many of the islands have been eroded almost to sea-level and 

 are barren of vegetation or nearly so. At the southern end of llalia-jinia, 

 there is a little marshy land but I saw none elsewhere. A few leagues to the 

 south are the Sulphur Islands, a tiny group of voleanic islets of more recent 

 origin than the l^onins, but as I did not visit there no further reference 

 to tluMu will be made. 



Leaving Yokohama on the morning of April 18, 1917, we touched at 

 Hachijo and Tori-shima Islands and reached (^hichi-jima in the forenoon 

 of April 21. Hachijo is an interesting volcanic island belonging to the 

 Idzu group, and was in old days used as a penal settlement for political 

 ofTcndcrs. Tori-shima, or Bird Island, is an active volcano over GjO meters 

 high; and bare save for J^itex ovaia Thunb. and a few^ herl)S at sea-level. It 

 is a breeding place for two species of AlI)atross {Diomcdea immutah'dis Roths, 

 and D. alhafrus Pall.) and tliese birds are so tame that they may be caught 

 by hand. Formerly a elapanese was engaged in the rej)rehensible trade of 

 exporting feathers and had fully a hundred people engaged on this island 

 killing the birds. The volcano erupted, about ten years ago, killed nearly 

 every inhabitant, and scared the birds from this haunt. The birds are now 

 returning and some five or six peojile live on the island where landing, 

 excei)t in the calmest weather, is out of the question. The temperature of 

 the waler at the landing place is nearly 100° V. On the outward journey 

 we managed to land for a short time but found it impossible to do so on 

 our return. 



Seen from the sea, the central and southern groups of the Bonin Islands 

 are extremely pictures(|ue with irregular, bold, black, wall-like cliifs worn 

 into rude shai)es. Tlie strong winds which prevail keej) the vegetation, in 

 all but the sheltered parts, down to a mean height and from the sea there 

 are no api)arent outstanding features of forest-growth. A dense thicket 

 where no cultivation exists is the impression given. As the harbor in 

 Cliichi-jima is reached a Palm {Livistona chiunisis R. Br.) is seen to be 

 esi)ecially abundant, and its mo])-IIke crown of gray-green fan-shaped leaves, 

 with their long pendent edges, is reared well above the other vegetation. 

 In gullies, and indeed in every place affording some shelter, grows a variety 

 of trees and shrubs and chief among tliem is a Cabbage Palm (CyphoJccjitia 

 Saronjcnut Rehd. & Wils.) which in the past made the Islands famous among 

 whaling and other sea-faring men. This Palm is not abundant today but 

 is in no danger of extermination. On the beaches grow such wide-spread, 

 maritiiiH^ plants as J^ilex orala Thunb., Scaevola Kocnigii Vahl, Ipomaea 

 biloha L., Canaralla ohtusiJoHa DC. Cae^salpijiia BonduceUa Flem., Her- 

 nandia pellala Meisn., CalopJiylhtm Inoplnjllum\^,^IIihiscus tiliaceus 1j,, and 

 Erythrina indica L., all typical of the tropics. From sea-level to high on 

 the mountain slopes a Screw Pine {randaiius honinensis Warb.) is abun- 

 dant and is perhaps the most connnon ])lant on the islands. AVhere the 

 vegetation has been undisturbed on the hills, and more especially in places 

 protected from the strong winds, trees grow thickly and on their trunks are 

 epiphytes in profusion. Among these ej)i}>hytes are such Orchids as Cirrhope- 



