108 Transactions. 



Small deposits of sulpliiir were seen in two or three places round tlie 

 upper edge of the basin, on wliieli we also found many insects, such as 

 beetles and dragon-flies, as well as some feathers of a lark, and the whole 

 body of a hawk, incrusted with the siliceous sinter. 



The water in the pools on the terraces was of very opaque light-blue 

 colour ; and when we first arrived, I noticed that the water in the basin 

 and the lower portion of the column of steam ascending from it were also of 

 the same hue. 



Aet. XV. — Description of Arid Island, Haurahi Gulf. By Captain 

 F. W. HuTTOi^, P.G.S., and T. Kiek. 



Plate VI. 

 [Read hefore the AucMand Institute, 3rd August, 1868.] 

 Aeid Island lies about three miles from the north-east coast of the G-reat 

 Barrier. It is rather less than one mile and a half long, by about three- 

 quarters of a mile broad, and contains nearly 600 acres. Its highest point 

 is about 700 feet above the sea level. 



In December, 1867, in company with Mr. A. J. Allom, we spent several 

 hours in examining this island, which, owing to its out-of-the-way position 

 and its rugged cliffs, is seldom visited except by Maoris in the Mutton-bird 

 season — the end of November. The accompanying map (Plate VI.), which 

 we then made, Avill serve to show its principal features ; although, being 

 merely an eye-sketch, and made without any instruments, it has no preten- 

 sions to strict accuracy. 



Arid Island certainly does not deserve the name bestowed on it by 

 Captain Cook. The high, rugged, desolate-looking cliffs that encircle the 

 greater part of the island, hide within them beautifully-sheltered valleys, 

 covered with luxuriant fern and bush, and watered by streams which, 

 uniting, empty themselves into the small boat harbour on the west coast. 

 This harbour, although too small for a cutter to swing at her anchor, and 

 exposed to north-westerly winds, is well adapted for boats, as it terminates 

 in a fine, sandy beach, up which they can be easily hauled. It is the place 

 where the Maoris always land when they come to eat Mutton-birds. These 

 Mutton-birds, or Oii, as they call them, are a kind of petrel, of a dark 

 brown colour, belonging, we suspect, to the genus Pvffinus. We were not 

 able to procure a specimen, the season being too far advanced, and saw 

 nothing but the feathers lying about, where the Maoris had been eating 

 them. These birds live in holes which they burrow into the soft hill sides. 

 We were informed by the natives of the G-reat Barrier that formerly they 

 used to be very numerous, but that latterly they had become scarce, having 



