NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



473 



forest and almost impenetrable busk The trees are covered with epiphytic ferns, 

 Astelias, and Liliaceous epiphytes, which, perched in the forks of the branches, remind 

 one in their habit and appearance of the Bromeliaceous epiphytes of Tropical America. 

 One of the most remarkable trees, as pointed out by Mr. T. Kirk, F.L.S., is the 

 Eata (Metrosideros robusia). 1 This, though a Myrtaceous plant, has all the habits of the 

 Indian Figs, simulating them in the closest manner. It starts from a seed dropped in 

 the fork of a tree, and grows downward to reach the ground ; then having taken root 

 there, and gained strength, chokes the supporting tree and entirely destroys it, forming a 

 large trunk by the fusion of its many stems. Nevertheless, it occasionally grows directly 

 from the soil, and then forms a trunk more regular in form. Another species of Rata 

 (Metroside ros Jiorida) is a true climbing plant. 



Few birds were seen. The Gull of Kerguelen Island (Larus dominicanus) was 

 common in the harbour. On the telegraph wires along the shore sat a Kingfisher 

 (Halcyon sanctus) in abundance, and dashed down from thence on its prey into the 

 shallow water of the harbour. It was interesting as being the first Kingfisher met 

 with on the voyage leading a littoral existence and feeding on sea fish. After- 

 wards Kingfishers similarly inhabiting the sea shores became familiar in the Strait of 

 Magellan. In the poulterers' shops the curious parrot, or Kaka (Nestor meridional is), 

 was hung up for sale. Mr. T. H. Potts 2 describes this bird as tearing away the dead wood 

 of trees in search of insects, and appearing by its habits to replace to some extent the 

 woodpecker, which is totally absent in New Zealand. 



The New Zealand Peripatus (Peripatus nova? zealandice) s is abundant near Wellington 

 amongst dead wood, and forty or fifty specimens were brought to the ship as the result 

 of a day's search in the Hutt Valley. As in the case of the species from the Cape of 

 Good Hope (Peripatus caiiensis), the males are much less abundant than the females. 

 In essential structure and habits the animal closely resembles the South African species, 

 but is distinguished by having fewer pairs of feet, viz., fifteen instead of seventeen. The 

 females all contained young, although it was mid-winter (see p. 284). 



Land Planarian worms are also pretty common near Wellington. In their anatomical 

 structure, the New Zealand species are more nearly allied to South American forms of 

 the genus Geoplana than to the Australian Land Planarians. These latter belong to a 

 special genus (Cainoplana), which has affinities with the genus Rhyncltodemus of India 

 and the Cape of Good Hope. 



Mr. W. T. Travers, F.L.S., to whom the Expedition was indebted for much kindness 

 and scientific information during the stay at Wellington, brought on board specimens of 

 Perijxitus noire zealandice and also of Land Planarians, together with the egg capsules 



1 T. Kirk, F.L.S., On the Habit of the Rata, Metrosiileros rolmsta, Trans. New Zealand Inst., vol. iv. p. 267, 1871. 

 8 Trans. New Zealand Inst., vol. iii. p. 82, 1870. 



:1 H. N. Moseley, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, vol. xix. pp. 85-91, 1877. 

 (naru. chaix. exp. — vol. i. — 1884.) 60 



