xxvm 



SUBANTARCnC ISLANDS OF KEW 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 ovir knowledge of the fauna and 

 flora. The results thus obtained are already very considerable, and would be much 

 greater but for the 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 

 the 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- 



Fiii. 10 —Dkiot, Caiini.kv HAiiiioiii, Aicki.axd Islands. 

 Adams Island in the backgronnd. 



covery and productions, which were afterwards incorporated with 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 the idea that they might afford food for future shipwrecked 

 sailors. Bristow had liberated pigs 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 " (1904, p. 300) and 



