Cheeseman. — Notes on the Three Kings Ishoids. 419 



Island. In my previous paper I have given a list of the other 

 kinds seen, and I have no additional species to record now. 

 By far the most interesting is the native quail (Coturnix) ; for, 

 so far as is known at present, it is absolutely extinct else- 

 where in New Zealand. It is by no means common in its last 

 refuge ; for, although I walked round the island and crossed it 

 from side to side in two or three places, I did not see more 

 than thirteen or fourteen, and it is possible that several of 

 these may have been started twice over. They usually got up 

 in pairs, generally close to the explorer, and after a flight of 

 200 or 300 yards would settle again. On one occasion a single 

 bird rose almost from betjween my feet. Looking down, I 

 noticed a beautifully-made cup-shaped nest, containing six 

 perfectly fresh eggs. These I of course secured, and tliey are 

 now in the Auckland Museum. 



While I was engaged in the examination of the Great 

 King, Captain Fairchild paid a visit in the " Hinemoa " to the 

 East King, to ascertain whether a landing could be effected. 

 It proved to be exceedingly rocky and precipitous on all sides : 

 and, although with care it would have been possible to land at 

 the foot of the cliffs, it appeared to be quite impossible to reach 

 the top of the island. x\cting, therefore, on his advice, I made 

 no attempt to land. It is about the same size as the Western 

 King, but is rounder in outline, and a little higher. The 

 whole of the top is covered with light bush, mainly composed 

 of the puka, which appears to be even more plentiful than on 

 the Western King. Cabbage-trees {Cordyline) and pohutu- 

 kawa were also seen ; but the steamer could not be taken 

 sufficiently close inshore to identify any other species. 



Few localities would make a better fisliing-station than 

 the Three Kings, and it is to be regretted that they are so 

 distant from the chief centres of population. During our 

 three days' stay the crew of the "Hinemoa" caught large 

 numbers of fish. One hapuka, taken from a boat anchored 

 not more than a quarter of a mile from the shore, weighed 

 1121b., and another turned the scale at 961b. Kingfish and 

 yellow-tail are also remarkably plentiful, while schnapper, 

 kahawai, and gurnard all abound. 



I have appended a catalogue of the flowering-plants and 

 ferns noticed in the group, the total number being 143. Five 

 fire new species, and are not known to occur elsewhere, al- 

 though there is a strong probability that they may exist in 

 the North Cape district, which has been very imperfectly 

 examined for plants. Three others are not known on the 

 mainland, although they occur on other outlying islands. The 

 remaining 135 species are of more or less common occurrence 

 in the northern part of the colony. 



Although the Three Kings Islands are nearlv thirtv-eioht 



