Haast.—On Rock Specimens from the Chathams. - EN 
During one short absence, I lost a very large collection of plants, (including 
my only specimens of Euphorbia glauca, Edwardsia microphylla, and Mesem- 
bryanthemum australe), which, on my return, I found to be one mass of 
mildew. The several members of Mr. Hunt’s family were, during the whole 
time of my stay, so busily employed in their various duties, that I felt I 
could not impose upon them the extra task of attending to the plants, and 
this prevented me from visiting the various outposts and reefs. 
* In regard to insects, &c., my knowledge is too limited for me to venture 
upon any detailed observations respecting those which occur in the islands. 
I noticed, amongst others, the eommon New Zealand bluebottle and yellow 
flesh flies, and the European house fly. Mosquitoes and sandflies were 
abundant. In the bush I saw a considerable number of spiders, including 
one very large Mygale, which also frequented buildings, making its nest in 
the thatch. I found several beetles, but moths and butterflies were rare, 
the few I met with being apparently identical with New Zealand species. 
* Several introduced plants are spreading rapidly, for example, white 
clover, the English daisy, the dock, the mustard (Sinapis arvensis), the 
English burr, (which grows with the utmost rankness in the bush on Pitt’s 
Island, often to the height of three feet and upwards,) the Polygonum (avicu- 
lare?) found on the Canterbury Plains, the wild strawberry, and others. 
Indeed, from the luxuriance and rapidity with which those plants grow, I 
have little doubt that, if not checked, they would soon overcome and replace 
the indigenous herbaceous vegetation. Since the introduction of bees, 
European fruit trees have produced freely, and all kinds of vegetables grow 
with great vigour. 
“Should any other person be tempted to visit the islands for botanizing 
purposes, I recommend the months from December to April inclusive as the 
best season.” 
Arr. XIX.—WNotes on the Rock Specimens collected by H. H. Travers, Esq., 
on the Chatham Islands. By Ju1rvs Haast, Ph.D., F.G.S., F.L.S. 
[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 
Tux Chatham Islands consist of different formations, some of high geological 
interest; showing, on the one hand, that in their geological relations they 
are nearly allied to New Zealand, and on the other hand, that they belong 
to a separate voleanic axis, of which we shall, in the course of time, be able 
to trace the continuation north and south. 
The principal island is of volcanic origin, and consists chiefly of basaltic 
and doleritic rocks and tufas, although older rocks are certainly not wanting. 
