Ixviii Appendix. 



to be found magnificent specimens of ScMzcea 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 witli 

 grasses, Cyperacem, and other ferns, and Lycopodiums ; this sort of vegetation 

 continues to the tops of the highest hills tbat 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 ti-ees 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 (A Aleurites triloba, with interspersed trees of 

 WeinTuannia, Carissa grandis of Bertuo, and one or two Urticacece and 

 Eupliorhiacece, which I have not seen in flower. The more exposed sides are 

 generally covered with Rhus apapi of Berfcuo, the largest tree which belongs 

 exclusively to these islands ; it may sometimes, but rarely, be found 18 inches 

 diameter and 15 feet high. As the apapi is a 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 hiflora, and another species much resembling it, 

 Omalanthus, sp., Bradleia, Melastoma jusiense, Commersonia echinata, Grewia, 

 and one or two other Byttrenacem, besides the ubiquitous Metroslderos lucida 

 and Dodoncea viscosa, the whole bound together by the large species of 

 Freycinetia, with its red bracts, Jasminum didymum, some Mucmias, 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 covei-ed with fern and ti, or Draccena 

 plants. The extreme ridges of all the hills I have visited have been covered 

 with Metrosideros, Dodonoia, Nelitris jamhosella, 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 pi-oximity, 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 



