214 EEPOET — 1891. 



selago, Hook. f. A few years back the island was visited by- 

 Professor Scott, of Dmiedin, who pubhshed a valuable account 

 of its fauna and flora in the " Transactions of the New Zealand 

 Institute." 



Until my recent visit the botany of Antipodes Island and 

 the Snares was entirely unknown. Although the time avail- 

 able for collecting was extremely brief,— in some instances 

 being limited to a few^ hours, — I succeeded in making a few 

 additions to the plants known from the Auckland and Camp- 

 bell Islands, and adding to the list of plants common to both. 

 For this success I am largely indebted to the obliging courtesy 

 of Captain Fairchild, in command of the steamer " Hinemoa," 

 who spared no effort to enable me to use my limited oppor- 

 tunities to the greatest advantage, and to whom I desire to 

 render my sincere thanks. 



THE SNARES. 



The rocky islands known as the Snares are situate on the 

 48th parallel of south latitude, and within sixty-five miles 

 of the South Cape of Stewart Island. As they lie outside 

 the usual track of vessels, they are but rarely visited, and 

 hitherto nothing has been known of their botany ; it was 

 therefore with great pleasure that I found myself on board 

 the Government steamer "Hinemoa" on her southern relief- 

 trip last year, the Snares being usually her first place of call 

 after leaving the Bluff. The group known as the Snares con- 

 sists of two islands, one much larger than the other, separated 

 by a narrow channel, and by several smaller islets. I was able 

 to land on the largest island only, so that the following notes 

 cannot be considered exhaustive. The island is the abode of 

 numberless penguins, petrels, and other sea-birds, and exhibits 

 numerous indications of their influence on the vegetation. 



Several interesting land-birds were observed, the most re- 

 markable being the Auckland Island snipe {Gallinago auck- 

 landica), and the grass-bird {Sphenceacus imnctatus) : the latter, 

 w^hich has become very rare on the mainland, was decidedly 

 frequent on this little island. The occurrence of birds of such 

 small power of flight in these lonely islands is very suggestive. 

 Formerly these islands were visited by sealers, who have suc- 

 ceeded in nearly extirpating the seals, only a pair being known 

 to inhabit them at the present time. I w^as fortunate in seeing 

 one of these, which allowed itself to be stroked on the neck 

 with a long rod by Captain Fairchild, and seemed to enjoy 

 the process rather than otherwise. The visits of sealers serve 

 to account for the presence of a few naturalised plants. 



The largest island is of irregular outline, and about a mile 

 and a half in its greatest diameter : in many places the cliffs 

 are steep and lofty, but a good harbour for small craft exists 



