4 Dendy, The ChatJiam Islands. 



As regards climate the islanders have little to complain 

 of; the rainfall is plentiful without being excessive, and 

 the cloudiness of the atmosphere contrasts favourably with 

 the too brilliant sunshine of many parts of Australasia. 

 The absence of severe frost permits the growth of plants 

 which will not flourish in the southern parts of New 

 Zealand, and, were it not for the somewhat severe winds> 

 the vegetation would be still more luxuriant. 



Flora. 

 The total number of species of flowering plants and 

 ferns indigenous to the group is probably somewhat under 

 two hundred ; the lower plants are as yet very imperfectly 

 known. For purposes of description the flora may be 

 conveniently divided between Forest, Moorland, and Sea- 

 coast. 



The Forest Flora. — A considerable portion of the 

 island, especially in the south-west, is still covered with 

 dense forest. This forest was formerly much more 

 extensive than at the present day, but it has been largely 

 cleared away with a view to extending the pastures. In 

 some places this destruction of the natural wind-break 

 has resulted in much damage from the drifting in of the 

 sand, which is now being checked by the planting of 

 Marram grass. There are no really large trees, and the 

 average height of the forest is perhaps only about 20 feet^ 

 while the level of the tree tops appears to be very evenly 

 maintained by the severity of the wind ; where undis- 

 turbed, there is still a luxuriant undergrowth of shrubs and 

 ferns. There are, I believe, no indigenous deciduous trees 

 or shrubs, and the evergreen character of the forest assists 

 in keeping out the wind and promoting the growth of 

 ferns. 



The principal forest trees are as follows : — 



