ARTICLE XII.-REPORT ON OLIGOCHAETA OF THE SUBANTAUCTIC 



ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



By W. B. Benham, D.Sc, F.R.S., University of Otago. 



PLATES X ANi> XI. 



The earthworms described in this report may be regarded as fairly representative 

 of the Oligochaet fauna of these southern islands — at any rate, of the Auckland 

 Island group, on which the majority were collected. 



Since the stay of the " Erebus " and " Terror " at Port Ross in 1840, no naturalist 

 has been able to spend more than a few hours at each of the islands. The usual op- 

 portunity afforded him is the occasion of the annual visit in search of shipwrecked 

 mariners when the New Zealand Government steamer makes a tour of inspection 

 of the islands and the depots. On these occasions the naturalist has only a few hours 

 in which to make a collection, and that only in the immediate proximity of the 

 landing-place. I have been more fortunate, as on the occasion of each of my two 

 visits the circumstances have been such as to permit a more prolonged investigation 

 of the fauna. 



In February, 1907, I had the honour of being invited by His Excellency the 

 Governor of New Zealand (Lord Plunket) to accompany him on his visit to these 

 distant parts of the Dominion under his charge, and I had every opportunity, 

 commensurate with the time allotted to the trip, to collect. While at the Auckland 

 Islands we spent one morning at Port Ross, an afternoon on Enderby Island, and a 

 whole day on Adams Island. Our stay at Campbell Island covered two days, 

 and I had time to ascend Mount Honey ; another day was occupied in traversing 

 the Antipodes Island ; while at the Snares we spent a few hours. Both at the 

 Auckland and Campbell Islands I collected a considerable number of earthworms, 

 but at the Antipodes I found none, chiefly, I think, because I had no spade with 

 me, for we had landed at a spot where we had to climb up a very steep face of smooth 

 slippery rock through a penguin-rookery, where it was inadvisable to hamper one's- 

 self with unnecessary gear. I have since regretted this lack of a spade. 



My second visit was paid in November, 1907, and was confined to the Auckland 

 Islands, except for some hours on the Snares, at each of which a good number of 

 earthworms were obtained. At the Aucklands ten days were spent, and here I 

 paid attention not only to the Oligochaeta, but also to all groups of invertebrates, 

 except Lefidoftera, both terrestrial and marine. Those members of the expedition 

 — viz., the botanists and geologists — whose work necessitated their going to the 

 more distant parts of the islands, brought earthworms from all their excursions, 

 and I owe many thanks to Dr. Cockayne and Messrs. Aston, Speight, and Tennant, 



