Cheeseman. — Notc-i Oil the Three Kiuij^ Idamh. 415 



runs in on the north-west side, ahnost meeting a smaller one 

 from the south-east, and leaving only a narrow neck between. 

 The island is thus almost cut into two portions, an eastern 

 and a western, of which tlie western is much the largest. The 

 coast-line is bold and rocky, and is formed by steep and pre- 

 cipitous cliffs, varying in height from 300ft. to 700ft. The 

 cliffs often rise directly from the w^ater, the waves breaking 

 against them. In some places huge caves have been worn out 

 of the rock, and the deep hollow sound the surf makes when 

 driven into these can be heard at a considerable distance from 

 the shore. 



There are at least three landing-places on the island, but 

 no one of them can be said to be good. The one which we 

 used is at the head of the northern bay, and is well sheltered 

 from easterly winds. The south-east bay, just opposite to 

 this, can be made use of in westerly winds ; so also can a 

 little bay situated a short distance more to the westward. 

 The set of the wind and waves into these bays has to be care- 

 fully studied when a landing is attempted, for a very slight in- 

 crease to the surf always breaking on the beaches makes the 

 undertaking risky and difficult, if not impossible. Wherever 

 the explorer lands, the cliffs, which are nowhere less than 

 250ft. in height, have to be scaled before the top of the island 

 can be reached ; and a rough and laborious climb it is. 



Starting from the top of the ridge separating the two baj's, 

 a path can be found to the highest peak by keeping close to 

 the edge of the northern cliffs. The vegetation is principally 

 short and stunted tea^ree, mixed with the common fern, flax, 

 short-stemmed cabbage-trees, and a few sedges and grasses. 

 The new species of Coprosma described in my previous paper 

 {G. tncCcrQcarpa) is plentiful, and when covered with the large 

 orange-yellow berries, which are almost the size of small 

 plums, presents quite a showy iippearance. An unusually 

 large-leaved variety of tlie hangehange (Geniostoma lignstri- 

 foliurn) is also common. Wherever the tea-tree attains a little 

 higher growth than usual, and consequently affords more 

 shade, the new DavaUia discovered in my previous visit 

 abounds. It is in fact one of the characteristic plants of the 

 island; and, as I saw- it in gi'eat quantity on tlie W^estern 

 King, it is probably distributed through the entire group. Its 

 stiff" leathery fronds and stout cha.ffy rhizome are not unlike 

 those of the Polynesian D. solidct, and have no resemblance 

 whatever to the other New Zealand species, D. novce-zecdandice. 

 Since writing my previous paper I have been able to compare 

 it with good specimens of the Australian D. pyxidata, to which 

 at one time I thought it might be referred ; and I have now- 

 uo doubt of its perfect distinctness. In this view I am sup- 

 ported by Mr. J. G. Baker, of the Kew Herbarium. He in- 



