rH'-^.'C^,"' 



IBIIM 



PHYSICAL STRUCTURE. 



109 



proposed to be given to it. In cliaracter it is allied to Ficus micropliylla of this 

 Colony ; but the smaller size of the fruit and foliage, and its numerous root- 

 stems, at once distinguish it from that species."* 



One of the most conspicuous trees is the Semicydia ausfralasica, 

 Mueller, to which attention is at once attracted by its red-coloured plum- 

 like fruit. The trees of most frequent occurrence are Sihiscus Patersoni, 

 the " Juniper," Myoporuon acuminatum, Br., and a tree supposed to be the 

 " Manchiueel "mentioned by T3all — Ochrosia elliptica. They occur always 

 near the coast, and form the outer or protecting belt of trees. Epacridacious 

 plants are represented by the large Dracophyllum FUzgeraldii, found in 

 Ersldne Valley. It reaches as mueli as forty feet high, with a trunk at least 

 wo feet in diameter. It is allied to indigenous species of New Zealand and 

 -1^ ew Caledonia. There is a Mistletoe-like parasite Viscum opuntioides, Forster, 

 out is restricted, Mr. Moore says, to Semicydia and Ma-odendron, and kills 

 the timber upon which it grows. It is also found in Norfolk Island. A 

 cane-like climbing plant, Fln/jellaria, completely uniting surrounding trees ; 

 and the " Tulip Tree," Fugosia Pattersonii. We had rery unpleasant 

 experience of a most offensive plant, which appears to be generally distributed 

 over Lord Howe, called the " Stink Plant," Coprosoma putida, Moore and 

 Mueller, emitting a smell from its bruised leaves or branches not easily for- 

 gotten, and described by Mr. Moore as " perfectly abominable." It 

 reminded us more than anything of the odour from an ancient cesspool. 

 -Lieutenant Ball speaks of the Mangrove, but Mr. Moore says i\\a:t jFgiceras 

 J^agrans was observed only at the mouth of a small creek from Mount 

 G-ower. We did not see it. 



Many very beautiful ferns wore observed ; but I regret to say that the 

 tree-ferns are not found in the profusion they a])pear to have once existed, 

 es:cept in the more inaccessible parts of the island, Mr. Moore mentions 

 two new arborescent species of Alsopliila, and A. excelsa, Br., with Tridio- 

 inanes meifolium. 



At the top of Mount Gower occur another fine species of Trichomanes, 

 Lomaria capensis, and Ilymenophyllum tunbridgense, where they grow in 

 great profusion. 



The general set of the currents is from the north and north-east, but the 

 joeal currents around the island appear to be very variable. The most 

 important one is that running through the Sugar-loaf Passage, between the 

 iiiain island and the Admiralty Islets. The larger number appear to be one 

 knot currents. 



-The tide rises and falls about six feet. There are two good anchorages, one 

 on each side of the island. That on the east lies off Ned's Beach in lG-18 

 tathoms, and is known as the North-east Eoadstead. The second is called 

 the South-west Roadstead, and is situated outside the main middle entrance 

 to the Lagoon, in 1.5-L8 fathoms ; and there is a temporary anchorage outside 

 tile north end of the reef. A well-defined 20 fathom line exists on the east, 

 and supposing an elevation of this amount to tal^e place, it would be the 

 means of adding to the superficial area of Lord Howe in that direction, and 

 northerly and southerly, land many times its present size. 



ihe prevailing winds in summer are from the south-cast, and during 



■^'inter from the south-west, the latter at times blowing with great violence, 



accompanied by severe rain squalls. According to Mr. E. S. Hill, " cyclones 



roiu the N.N.W. occasionally devastate a confined area of from 40 to 50 



J iirds wide," but these are not of frequent occurrence. The steep gullies 



t Moore, in Hill's Lord Howe Island, loc. cit., p. 21. 



