770 



SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Soils and Soil-formers. 



Analysis of Sea-lions' Dung from Snares Island (J 827). 



Water . . . . , . . . 10-20 



Free ammonia 









0-08 



Nitrogen 









1-75 



Organic matter ( — N) 









. 25-94 



Phosphoric anhydride 









. 32-18 



Calcic oxide 









. 27-20 



Magnesic oxide 









1-03 



Sodic oxide 









1-63 



^fll 



100-01 



This would make an excellent phosphatic and nitrogenous fertiliser. 



Granite from Bounty Island. 



K 2996 is a coarse-grained granite obtained from the Bounty Islands on the 

 18th January, 1909. This island consists of bare granite rocks, with no higher vege- 

 tation. Millions of penguins (where the surface is fairly level about ten birds to 

 every square yard would be a reasonable estimate) are present. Their excreta 

 (K 3006) falls into the crevices, where it remains until washed away by the rain. 

 Where the birds rest the rock is covered with a smooth polished crust, as if a coating 

 of calcic carbonate has been deposited upon it. Analysis of this deposit (K 2996a) 

 shows that it contains over 25 per cent, of mineral phosphate. This observation 

 is of some theoretical interest, showing how deposits of mineral phosphate are at 

 present being formed. 





K 2996a. 



Exterior, polished 



by Sea-birds. 



K2996. 

 Interior. 



Loss on ignition 

 Silica 

 Lime . . 

 Alumina 

 Ferric oxide 



Phosphoric anhydride* . 

 Magnesic oxide 

 Titanic oxide . . 

 Potassic oxide . . 

 Sodic oxide 











5-00 



48-25 



9-70 



13-30 



4-14 



11-77 



0-83 



0-35 



2-76 



4-42 



1-15 

 66-95 

 3-25 

 12-50 

 4-60 

 1-90 

 0-43 

 0-60 

 4-18 

 4-60 





100-52 



100-16 



* Equal to tricalcic 



3hosphat( 



:i 







25-69 



4-14 



p 



