240 



and over all is the death-like stillness of the forest, broken only by 

 the occasional tinkle of the Bell Bird, sounding evensong, and 

 the Tui or Parson Bird. The large Kiwi, called the Roa, is 

 apparently still abundant, judging by the bore-holes seen, and the 

 Weka or Woodhen, looking like a large Water-rail, are very 

 numerous, and also inquisitive for they come within easy reach 

 and may be caught with a landing net. On return to the ship, 

 about 7 p.m., we found that those interested in the study of fish 

 had caught some fine flounders and blue cod which we ate for 

 breakfast the next morning. Weighed anchor about 9 p.m., and 

 steamed under easy steam to the Snares Islands where we arrived 

 on the morning of the 15th, in thick weather. These islands are 

 composed of basalt, rising some 500 feet, with precipitous cliffs. 

 Except on the Eastern side, where there is a convenient inlet which 

 makes an excellent landing-place, the whole island is covered 

 with dense semi-prostrate scrub, composed of Olearia Lyallii and 

 Scnecio Muelleri ; the former with its silvery foliage is easily 

 distinguished from the vivid glossy green of the latter. On the 

 edge oE this scrub, and along the cliff, grew the long coarse 

 grasses Poa littorosa and P. foliosa, and mixed with them is 

 leromca elliplica and a plant which resembles in foliage a 



vegetable marrow, but in reality is Stilbocarpa, the flower of 



which, although green and black, forms a fine head, and is 



certainly worthy of a place in a garden. Dr. L. Cockayne whom 



l have been with, and who is the chief Botanist on the expedition, 



has pronounced it a distinct species from that growing on 



Auckland Island and named it Bollomi, in honour of the 



commander of this vessel. In all there are about 13 species of 



plants on these islands only, but the bird life is wonderful. On 



approaching the shore dense colonies of Penguins were seen, and 



a few ierns and Gulls flying about. We found the landing place 



S^fn h l sea - lions ' some of which were inclined to be 



«XSS + l ° h f ged down the stee P slope towards the sea 



mt-^lV ■ P i rt 7 nght and left ' over wl *ich there was much 



to so Z «™T inR d ? ltY \ a Certain amount <> f fe * r ^r he can bite 



oblo n wi° Se he .. chances to get an opportunity. My main 



: t • -l th" g ° n tbl8 ? CCasion was not so much to hunt plants 



intent T ^iT 11 ' ? lghtleSS birds > and this to me was of great 



anda sack for \f VUed mySelf with a long-handled landing-net 



(land) ,te° a JS*" *T ''• * he idea bein ^ to transport the birds 



wldchTs hohl f t0 ^ 18land named Ka Pitb in Cook's Strait, 



reserve LnSv^ n ? ^fV^nds, by the Government, 



everv Vear mol n ^^ 5 Which P recaut ion is becoming 



aisappelrnig T Lr,rT ry i'T SinCe the native birds are fast 

 the size of a htJuL d * saw was a brown fern bird, about 



found them ^t!t, P f r0W ' but with a ^n-shaped tail, and I 



tour Maorl b whom ^ L 1 ^ 7**?* ^^ but ^ thi aid ° f 

 birds and then c ult £ b F ou f bt ^vith us, I rounded up the 



Snipe, which Z ZStoJSt m - he »«»**■*. These and the 

 bu1 (■ much nwreVhm?? • ? ry Slmilar to our British ful1 Snipe, 

 £*»* were comparativo y ? T and bil1 ' and has a much shorter 

 Robin, which SCffi £ future, but the Chatham Island 

 "• keep out of S ™ C ° U u d fly ' ancl was J U8 t wary enough 



managed to seem* . ?'* M ™ uc . h more difficult to catch, but we 



as a 



