lxviii Appendix. 
to be found magnificent specimens of Schizæa forsteri. After passing this belt 
of dry shrubs the numbers of species increase. Often the native forest reaches 
the crests of the hills, but if it does not the Gleichenia becomes mixed up with 
grasses, Cyperacec, and other ferns, and Lycopodiwms ; this sort of vegetation 
continues to the tops of the highest hills that anybody has ever yet ascended 
—about 3,000 feet ; if, however, the hills are moist and covered with wood 
vast numbers of ferns will be found at the elevation of 1,500 feet, and it is 
probable that if one could reach the highest peaks (4,500 feet) a still greater 
number would be found; but I do not expect that there would be a like 
increase of exogenous plants, because I find the same species of trees very 
widely dispersed in respect to height after passing the true valley region; but 
perhaps this might not be the case in the centre of the island, which I have 
never been able to visit in consequence of the war. 
The chief portion of the wood in the upper portions of the hills, in 
sheltered situations, is composed of Alewrites triloba, with interspersed trees of 
Weinmannia, Carissa grandis of Bertuo, and one or two Urticacem and 
Euphorbiacee, which I have not seen in flower. The more exposed sides are 
generally covered with Rhus apapi of Bertuo, the largest tree which belongs 
exclusively to these islands ; i& may sometimes, but rarely, be found 18 inches 
diameter and 15 feet high. As the apapi is а tree which does not give much 
shade, the ground beneath is generally covered with an under-bush of greater 
variety than is found in other places, among which the most common are 
Alstonia costata, Cyrtandra biflora, and another species much resembling it, 
Omalanthus, sp., Bradleia, Melastoma justense, Commersonia echinata, Grewia, 
and one or two other Byttrenacee, besides the ubiquitous Metrosideros lucida 
and Dodonea viscosa, the whole bound together by the large species of 
Freycinetia, with its red bracts, Jasminum didymum, some Mucunas, and two 
Alyxias. These portions of the mountains are undoubtedly the richest in 
varieties of shrubs ; unfortunately they are always so steep that it is next to 
impossible to explore them. The botanist must confine himself to the mere 
ridge, where the path runs, which ridge is generally not more than a foot broad; 
if it should spread out it again becomes covered with fern and ti, or Dracaena 
plants. The extreme ridges of all the hills I have visited have been covered 
with Metrosideros, Dodonaea, Nelitris jambosella, and Vaccinium bushes; on 
one or two places I have found a Coprosma. 
Immediately under these sharp crests, with their heads reaching to the 
level on which grow the more hardy plants, are often to be seen, in tempting 
but disappointing proximity, many plants which are apparently to be found 
nowhere else, but which it is impossible to reach, while, at the same time, 
they are almost within one's grasp. The crests are, as I said, very steep and 
narrow—in fact, mere walls of earth ; they are covered with thick fern and 
