THE BOTANY OF THE SNARES. 1 6 1 



native of the mountains of the Sandwich Islands, and has hitherto 

 been found nowhere between these two distant parts of the immense 

 Pacific Ocean, and nowhere else in the world. From the foregoing- 

 notes may be gathered what an interesting flora that of Lord Howe 

 Island is, and it is to be hoped that the recommendations of the 

 Commissioners for its preservation have been carried out by the 

 Government of New South Wales. 



THE BOTANY OF THE SNARES.* 



BY T. KIRK, F.L.S. 



The Snares comprise several rocky islands situate on the 48th 

 parallel of south latitude and about 65 miles in a south-westerly 

 direction from the extreme southern point of Stewart Island. . Owing 

 to their being outside the direct track of vessels they are but rarely 

 visited, so that hitherto nothing has been known of their fauna or 

 flora. My visit was restricted to a few hours in January, 1890, when 

 I was able to land on the largest island, which is of irregular outline 

 and about a mile and a half in its greatest diameter. The cliffs are 

 steep and lofty, but a good boat harbour exists on the north-east side. 

 The rocks are granitic, and the greatest altitude does not exceed 480 

 feet. The rocks are everywhere covered with a deep layer of peat. 



There is but little fresh water on the island; two small rills issuing 

 from swampy ground unite before reaching the cliffs, but the water is 

 undrinkable, being polluted by the penguins ; and the few swamp- 

 plants that occur exist under difficulties, being continually flattened 

 under the broad feet of these birds, which abound everywhere, their 

 numbers being but little reduced by the predaceous sea-hawks, which 

 swoop down upon unguarded eggs or young birds, and are almost ready 

 to attack man himself. 



The crested penguins (Eudyptes pachyrhynchiis) exercise an injurious 

 effect upon large portions of the woody vegetation; they select sheltered 

 places with an open aspect, where they perch upon the trees in vast 

 numbers, forming large "I'ookeries" ; the trees thus honoured by their 

 presence are soon killed by their pungent ordure. Various petrels — the 

 " mutton-birds " of the Maoris — form their burrows amongst the roots 

 of the trees, and may be heard mewing and puling in all directions. 

 Several interesting land birds inhabit the island, the more noticeable 

 being the Auckland Island Snipe (Gattinago Auchlandica) ; the grass 

 bird (Sphameacus fulvus), although now rare on the mainland, was 

 frequent on this little island, and associated with a small robin (Miro 

 Traversii) only known elsewhere on the Chatham Islands. The 

 occurrence of birds with such weak power of flight on these lonely 

 islands is very suggestive. 



The true fur-seal was formerly plentiful on the Snares, but has 

 almost become extirpated through the continuous visits of sealers, who 

 have unintentionally intixxluced a few plants from the mainland. 



* From "The Journal of Botany." 



