ARTICLE XXXV.-THli: BIOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF THE SUB- 

 ANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND: 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS.* 



By Charles Chilton, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., Professor of Biology, Canterbury College, University of 



New Zealand, Editor. 



In the foregoing pages the different contributors have given as full an account of 

 the subjects treated by them as the material and time at their command allowed, 

 and the result is a very considerable addition to our knowledge of these islands 

 and of their fauna and flora, and also some advance towards the solution of one or 

 two problems of wider interest connected with them. 



Before discussing the latter, however, it will be desirable to indicate the sub- 

 jects that have not yet been satisfactorily investigated. 



The primary object of the expedition was the extension of the magnetic survey 

 of New Zealand to the outlying islands, and this has been accomplished so far as 

 the Snares, Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island are concerned ; but no observa- 

 tions have yet been taken on the Antipodes, Bounty, and Macquarie Islands. The 

 Antipodes could usually be reached during any of the periodical visits of the Govern- 

 ment steamer, and so could the Bounties if the weather be sufficiently favourable 

 to allow of the landing upon them. There is no regular visit of a suitable steamer 

 to Macquarie Island, and special arrangements would therefore have to be made 

 for extending the magnetic survey to that island. It is very desirable that this 

 should be done, and that the fauna and flora of the island should at the same time 

 be more completely examined, since, owing to its position between New Zealand 

 and the Antarctic Continent, its biology is of especial interest. 



In the report on the magnetic observations made during the expedition it is 

 pointed out (see p. 788) that the present charts of the Auckland Islands are by no 

 means accurate in details, and it is suggested that this may possibly have some con- 

 nection with the large number of wrecks that have occurred on these islands. In 

 view of these facts it is highly desirable, both in the interest of science and of humanity, 

 that a careful re-survey of the Auckland Islands should be made, in order to correct 

 any inaccuracies in the Admiralty charts that may exist, similar to those that were 

 found some years ago in the case of the Snares Islands. 



The main outlines of the geology of the Snares, Auckland Islands, and Camp- 

 bell Island are now known, and something also of the Antipodes Islands and Bounties ; 

 but there is no report on Macquarie Island by a geologist, and naturally much still 

 remains to be done both in Campbell Island and in Auckland Island, particularly 



* I am greatly indebted to Professor W. B. Benham, Dr. C. C. Farr, Dr. L. Cockayne, Mr. H. Suter, 

 Mr. R. Speight, and Mr. E. R. Waite for information on special points and for much general assistance 

 in the preparation of this summary. — C. C. 



