SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



[Historical. 



Moreover, the visits by the Government steamer have made it possible for various 

 scientific men to visit the islands and to add to our knowledge of the fauna and 

 Hora. The results tlius obtained are already very considerable, and would be much 

 greater but for tlie fact that the vessel can only stay a very limited time at each 

 place, and that the boisterous weather often greatly hinders the collecting of speci- 

 mens. 



It was probably owing to these shipwrecks that a description of the islands to 

 thej!'south and east of New Zealand was^drawn up and published by the Lords Com- 

 missioners of the Admiralty in 1868. This contains interesting* notes of their dis- 



10. — Dei'ot, Caiini.ev Hjhbocr, Aui:kla.\j> Isi.j 

 Adams Island in the background. 



covery and productions, which were afterwards incorporated witli the " Official 

 Sailing Directions." Another indirect result of the shipwrecks was that rabbits, 

 sheep, goats, and cattle were placed on suitable spots by the Government steamer 

 and by other vessels, with tlie idea that they might afford food for future shipwrecked 

 sailors. Bristow had liberated j^igs on the Auckland Islands for the same purpose in 

 1806, and Armstrong had placed woodhens on Enderby Island and pigs on Camp- 

 bell Island in 1868. Rats and mice were unintentionally introduced by the sealers, 

 and are mentioned by several subsequent visitors as being abundant on the islands. 

 Details of these introduced animals, and the effect that they have had on the vege- 

 tation, will be found in Dr. Cockayne's " Botanical Excursion " (19(i4, p. 30n) and 



