3CO NEW HEBRIDES. 



formed here, giving rise to a rock like that of Bermuda, with 

 contorted strata : perhaps the constancy of the direction of the 

 winds, or the smallness of area, or the absence of adequately 

 binding plants will account for it. 



The shore of Raine Island was of glistening white calcareous 

 sand, made up of fragments of shells, corals, and Foraminifera. 

 Immediately above the beach line, where grass commenced 

 and with it the breeding-place of the terns, the colour of the 

 sand became redder, and consolidated crusts were common 

 upon its surface, as at Bermuda. The sand rock is mostly 

 redder than the beach sand from which it is formed. Perhaps 

 this is due to the loss of a certain quantity of lime, and con- 

 sequent greater proportion of iron ; or perhaps to the action of 

 the birds' dung. 



On the island I found eleven flowering plants; I believe 

 there are no more. Two of these are grasses. The grass 

 covers tracts bordering the shores, where no other plant grows, 

 and it is here that the terns breed. I could find no moss, fern, 

 or lichen on the island, so that here, from the action of drought 

 and extreme heat, the conditions are just the opposite of what 

 they are in an Antarctic island, such as Possession Island, 

 where Cryptogams only grow. Some Fungi, and low algoe 

 possibly, on the birds' dung, and perhaps some parasitic fungi 

 on the plants, seemed to be the only Cryptogams in the island. 

 There were even no seaweeds to be seen cast up on the beach. 



There were no vestiges remaining of the gardens made on 

 the island in 1844, by the crew of the " Fly," and planted with 

 cocoanuts, pumpkins, and other plants ; all has been over- 

 whelmed by the drift sand. I found what 1 hope may prove 

 a favourable spot, and planted pumpkin, tomato, capsicum, 

 water melon, and Cape gooseberry seeds. I think the latter 

 plant very likely indeed to grow. There is very good black 

 vegetable soil in places on the island. 



The most striking feature at Raine Island is formed by the 

 birds. They are in such numbers as to darken the air beneath 

 as they fly overhead, and the noise of their various mingled 

 screams is very trying to the ears at first, but not so painful as 

 that of a penguin rookery. Eleven species of birds were seen 

 on the island. A heron, seen only at a distance, the cosmo- 

 politan " Turnstone," and a small Gull {Lams Novce Ho/landice) 

 appeared to be casual visitors to the island, as they were not 

 nesting there ; the Turnstones being seen in flocks on the 

 shore. 



The birds breeding on the island were as follows : — A Land- 

 rail {J^aHiis pectora/is), a widely spread species, occurring com- 

 monly in Australia, Central Polynesia, the Moluccas, and the 



