426 Tranmctioiis. — Botany. 



Akt. XLYI. — On the Botamj of the Snares. 

 By T. KiEK, F.L.S. 



[Read before the WdUngton riiilosopliical Society, 13th February, 1891.] 



The group of rocky islands known as the Snares consists of two 

 large and several small islets, situated on the 48th parallel of 

 south latitude and about sixty-five miles from the South Cape 

 of Stewart Island. As they lie oiTtside the usual track of 

 vessels, they are but rarely visited, so that hitherto nothing 

 lias been known of their natural history. 



The two large islands of the group are separated by a 

 narrow channel, the larger of the two being not more than a 

 mile and a half across. As it is the only member of the group 

 on which I was able to land, the following notes cannot be 

 considered exhaustive. 



The island is the abode of numberless crested penguins 

 {Eudijptes chrysocomiis) , with several species of petrels and other 

 oceanic birds : the penguins and petrels especially exercise an 

 injurious influence on the vegetation : the former by crushing 

 the smaller herbaceous plants under their broad feet during 

 the breeding-season, and by killing the trees on which their 

 " rookeries " are established ; the latter by burrowing among 

 the roots of the trees in all directions. Several interesting 

 land-birds were observed, the most remarkable being the Auck- 

 land Island snipe {Gallinago aucJdandica), and the grass-bird 

 [Sj^henoeacus fulvtis) which has become rare on the mainland, 

 but is decidedly frequent amongst trees on this little island ; 

 to which must be added a small robin, originally discovered 

 on Chatham Island, and described by Sir Walter Buller as 

 Miro traversii. The occurrence of birds with such weak 

 power of flight on these small islands is very suggestive. 



Formerly these islands were visited by sealers, who have 

 nearly succeeded in extirpating the fur-seal, only a pair being- 

 known to inhabit them at the present time. I was fortunate 

 in seeing one of these, which allowed itself to be stroked on the 

 neck with a long rod by Captain Fairchild, and seemed to 

 enjoy the process rather than otherwise. The visits of sealers 

 account for the presence of a few introduced plants. 



The island is of irregular shape, and about a mile and a half in 

 its greatest diameter. In many places the cliffs are steep and 

 lofty, but a good boat-harbour exists on the north-east side, and 

 the landing is eas}'. The rocks are granitic, and the greatest 

 altitude does not exceed 480ft. The greater portion of the 

 island is covered with light and occasionally open bush, never 

 exceeding 30ft. in height : in a few places a dense scrubby 



