184 SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Kcohnjiciil BntnniJ. 



1. Introduction. 



This paper must not be looked upon as in any degree exhaustive, but be considered 

 merely as a series of extended notes. Ecological studies must be prosecuted in the 

 field from living plants ; herbarium material is of but little moment. Notwith- 

 standing the two excursions I have made to the region under consideration, when 

 the bad weather, difficult country, and time occupied in getting to the plant forma- 

 tion, or plant to be examined, are considered, only a few hours have been spent in 

 actual field observations. All that is sought here is to give some general idea of the 

 aspect and distribution of the vegetation, together with certain details regarding the 

 plar.ts themselves, leaving abundant gaps to be filled up and corrections made by 

 future observers. 



Between floristic and ecological botany no hard-and-fast line can be drawn. 

 Long before the latter term was coined, any botanist visiting a new country would 

 be almost certain to give some general account of the plant-covering, while usually 

 the details supplied in the extended description of the species would contaiia facts 

 having a bearing on the relation of the organism to its environment. Thus, in the 

 writings of nearly all the botanists who have visited the islands here dealt with is 

 more or less matter of ecological interest, but it is generally buried amongst fioristic 

 particulars. 



First and foremost comes the magnificent work of Sir Josepli Hooker. In the 

 " Flora Antarctica "* is a vivid picture of the rata forest, while, taken in conjunction 

 with the coloured jjlates, a very fair idea may be gained from the descriptions of the 

 species regarding the ajjj^earance of the meadow of herbaceous plants. Also, in the 

 critical remarks are many details of ecological importance. 



Dr. J. H. Scott's paper on Macquarie Island,! published in 1883, contains 

 seme interesting matter regarding the vegetation of that little-known and remote 

 spot. 



Mr. T. Kirk examined portions of all the islands botanically, excejat Macquarie, 

 in 1890, publishing the next year his well-known paper entitled " On the Botany of 

 the Antarctic Islands,"."]: which, although floristic for the most part, gives some 

 important particulars both as to the vegetation as a whole and regarding certain 

 species. Mr. Justice Chapman, who visited the islands at the same time as Kirk, 

 published a valuable paper§ in which the flowering of soma of the plants is noted, 

 the manner of growth of Olearin Lynllii described, and a fine picture given of the 

 remarkable plant formation on wliich was bestowed the appropriate name of " Fair- 

 child's Garden." 



In 1904 Mr. A. Hamilton explored Macquarie Island, undergoing considerable 

 hardships and danger during the voyage. In his " Notes on a Visit to Macquarie 

 Island "II he su2323lements Scott's work, furnishing an excellent account of the swamp 

 formation, and also of what must be an upland wind-desert. 



* This is quoted in Mr. C'heeseman's memoir in tliis volume. 



t Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xv, p. 484 ; 1883. 



X Rep. Aus. Assoe. Adv. Sei., vol. iii, p. 213 ; 18'Jl. 



§ Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. .xxiii, p. 91 ; 1890. 



il Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxvii, p. 559 : 1895. 



