260 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
observation of the Transit of Venus, enabled me to ascertain ina 
very exact manner, all the geological, botanical, and zoological 
features peculiar to this little southern land. The study of the 
collections formed at this time, and which I have now nearly 
brought to an end, enables me to introduce some new elements 
into the discussion relating to the geographical extensions which 
New Zealand seems to have possessed during different geolo- 
logical periods. 
In 1872, Captain Hutton, in a paper in the “ Transactions of 
the New Zealand Institute,” basing his observations as well on 
the geological structure as on the geographical distribution of 
the species of animals, first drew attention to a series of move- 
ments of elevation and depression which New Zealand had 
undergone. The last great continental period of this land 
appears to have existed, according to him, at the commencement 
of the pliocene, and it appears to have come to an end about the 
middle of that geological period. It was then, according 
to the learned professor of Canterbury College, that the Moas, 
hitherto spread abroad over the great extent of land, took refuge 
as it became submerged on the portions which remained above 
water, where they rapidly succumbed in very considerable num- 
bers, in consequence of the struggle for existence which arose 
among them. In 1873, M. A. Milne Edwards, in his work on 
the southern faunas, was led, on his part, to call the attention of 
naturalists to certain zoological facts which seemed to show that 
at an epoch probably not far distant from our own New Zealand 
was united to different islands of Polynesia. In the following 
year (1874), Wallace, in his work on “ The Geographical Distri- 
bution of Animals,” discussed Prof. Hutton’s conclusions, and 
was led to admit with that learned naturalist, the existence, at a 
geologically recent period, of a New Zealand possessing a geo- 
graphical extension much greater than that of the present day. 
At that epoch, he says, Norfolk Island on the north, the 
Chathams on the east, and Auckland and Macquarrie Islands 
on the south, were united to it. It is this great Austral land, 
thus acknowledged and limited by M.M. Hutton, Milne Edwards, 
and Wallace, of which M. Blanchard has recently taken up the 
study again. : 
Has Campbell Island ever formed part of this pliocene 
New Zealand continent ? This is the question which I have 
endeavoured to solve. 
In all such discussions bearing upon the probable extensions - 
of certain lands, one of the most important elements to ascertain 
is that relating to the geology of the regions studied. Campbell 
Island presents a structure quite peculiar. A close examination 
of the relations existing between the rocks which constitute it, 
and the micrographic study of the lavas which cover it, have led 
me to modify completely the opinions which I expressed im- 
mediately after my return, upon its geological age, which I then 
founded solely upon external characters, 
