Haast. — On BocJc Specimens from the Chathams. 127 



During one short absence, I lost a very large collection of plants, (including 

 my only specimens of Eiiphorhia glauca, Edwardsia onicrophylla, and Mesem- 

 hryanthemum australe), wliicli, on my return, I found to be one mass of 

 mildew. Tbe several members of Mr. Hunt's family were, during tbe wbole 

 time of my stay, so busily employed in tbeir 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 common 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 My gale, 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 introd.uced 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." 



Akt. XIX. — Notes on the MocJc Specimens collected hy H. H. Travers, Esq., 

 on the Chatham Islands. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.Gr.S., F.L.S. 



l^Bead before the Philoso]pMcal Institute of Canferitiry.'] 



The 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 volcanic 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. 



