Kirk. — On the Botany of Aiilipodcs Island. 437 



^•ircled by low rounded hills oii three sides, broken, however, 

 by the stream which flows over the cliffs on the north-west 

 side : a small well-defined cup-crater is still visible amongst 

 the hills on the south side, but from want of time I was unable 

 to examine it. Mount Galloway, on the western side of the 

 island, is a bold round-topped hill, and forms the highest point, 

 attaining an altitude of 1,320ft. as determined by Captain 

 Fairchild. 



It is not quite certain whether the entire island is volcanic. 

 Some distance from the landing-place I noticed what appeared 

 to be a mass of finely-bedded reddish sandstone, but could not 

 get near enough to determine its character : it may have been 

 phonolite, which sometimes assumes a similar appearance, 

 and which occurs in the interior of the island. Most of the 

 rocks observed were basaltic. 



Large portions of the interior are more or less swampy, and 

 the bulk of the vegetation consists of coarse sedges and grasses, 

 amongst which many small herbs are concealed. There is an 

 almost total absence of ligneous vegetation, the only woody 

 plants observed being three species of Coprosma, two of which 

 are of prostrate habit or nearly so ; and the largest, which is 

 confined to the \dcinity of Mount Galloway, rarely exceeds the 

 stcXture of a low bush. Altogether when seen on a dull day 

 the island presents a most desolate and unattractive appear- 

 ance. 



In many places the dullness is relieved by the albatros 

 {Diomedca c.nilans), whose nests were dotted over large portions 

 of the isla.nd. Some young dark-coloured birds, with down still 

 remaining on their necks and wings, were observed sitting 

 upon or constructing nests, but only one of the nests seen by 

 me f'cr.tained an egg. In all instances the truncated mound 

 oi earth forming the nest of these young birds was roughly 

 made, loose, and somewhat small, presenting an unfinished 

 appearance, which formed a remarkable contrast to the nests 

 of the adult birds by which they were surrounded. Sea-hawks 

 were numerous, and constantly on the look-out for unguarded 

 eggs. The small yellow-headed parroquet (Platjjcercus novce- 

 zclandia;) was not unfrequent at the base of Mount Gallo- 

 way ; and the i^uckland Island snipe was observed in most 

 parts of the island, but of somewhat smaller size and deeper 

 colour than the typical form ; this form may be identical with 

 the doubtful Gallinatjo inisiila. 



To return to the vegetation : the mass of sedges and grasses 

 was relieved in many places by the large leaves and flower 

 panicles of StiU)Ocarpa polaris and by a handsome Senccio new 

 to science. Although herbaceous, it is of robust growth, and 

 forms large spreading bushes with fistulose stems the thick- 

 ness of a man's finger, and terminal corymbs of yellow ray- 



