6 



LOED HOWE ISLAND. 



trees, tlie Dwarf Mountain Palm {K. Moorei,) is confined to tlic summits 

 of Mounts Grower and Ledgbird. A very remarkable fact in connection with 

 the two lowland species, K. Forsteriana, and K. Belmoreana, and one I have 

 not hitherto seen mentioned, is worthy of record, and has a bearing on the 

 geology of the island. "Wherever the soil is derived from the decomposi- 

 tion of the Coral-sand roclc, the Thatch Palm {K. Forsteriana) exclusively 

 prevails, whilst the appearance of tbe Curly Palm at once indicates a volcanic 

 soil. So marked and constant is the position of the two palms, that it may be 

 taken in a general way as an index to the running of geological boundaries 

 between the two formations. 



Mr. Moore says that the Thatch and Curly Palms "both grow to about the 

 same height, the highest observed being about 35 feet." In favourable 

 situations, however, these trees attain to a mucli greater stature than thirty- 

 five feet. I was conducted by Capt. T. Nichols, a resident, to the " Valley of 

 the shadow of Death," a gully on the eastern side of the Island, running 

 down to Middle Beach, where the finest palms are to be seen. Here the 

 Thatch Palm grows with clean, straight stems to heights of 60, 70, and in a 

 few instances to as much as 100 feet, the over-lapping leaves forming a com- 

 plete canopy above, producing a general gloom, well expressed by the name 

 conferred on the ravine. 



The Physical Features of Lord Howe will be described in a subsequent 

 report, when dealing with the Gleology. 



The remarks which follow are intended to give a general outline of the 

 collections made by us, and an epitome of the zoology of Lord Ilowe Island, 

 so far as known. 



Mammalia. — The first settlers date no farther back than about 1834, 

 when three New Zealand colonists are said to have taken up their residence 

 there with Maori women. Since then there has been a very sparse and 

 fluctuating population, but traces of aboriginal inhabitants have nowhere 

 been discovered. I made every effort to ascertain whether any remains had 

 been met with in caves ; or traces of early man in the form of implements, 

 or rook paintings, but without the slightest success. 



The only indigenous lower mammals existing on Lord Howe are bats, but 

 even these are not plentiful. A single specimen of ScotopMlus morio, Gray,* 

 similar to those obtained by Morton was shot by Mr. Unwin, and a 

 larger species was occasionally seen. The " gardens " and other clearings 

 are their favourite haunts, but they are sometimes seen flying around the 

 cottages. Mr. A. Morton, when on the island in 1882, reported the 

 existence of a flying fox,t but careful inquiry failed to elicit confirmatory 

 evidence of this, and none were observed by us. We anticipated meeting 

 with bats in the Coral-rock caves at North Bay, one of the most favourable 

 habitats for them on the whole island, but not the slightest trace was 

 found. 



According to Mr. Morton the shores are visited, especially during gales, by 

 seals, probably identical with one or other of the Australian sjiecies of 

 Arctocephalus. 



A. mouse, said to have been introduced from Norfolk Island, is now 

 moderately common. It appears to Dr. llamsay and myself to be a variety 

 of Mus musculus, with a larger proportion of yellow-tawny hair, mixed with 

 the fur of the back, than is usually seen in that species. It now frequents 

 the houses, but formerly infested the clearings in such numbers as to become 



* Dobson (Oat. Cliiroptera, Brit. Mus. 1888, p. 248) calls this Chalinolohns, iuburculatus 

 Forster, sp. 



t Report to the Trustees, &o., loc. cif.,-p. 12. 



