222 HABITAT OF PATELLA KERM ADECEN SIS, PILSBRY, 
sufficient to set the matter at rest, I threw aside what I had 
written. Unfortunately I did not then notice a subsequent 
communication from Mr. Brazier printed in the same number 
(p. 566), in which, while granting that Patella ker madecensis 
might have been collected at Macaulay Island, one of the smaller 
islands of the group, he still declined to admit its nativity in 
Sunday Island. Perhaps I may now be allowed to mention what 
must be regarded as conclusive evidence on the point. 
In July, 1887, the New Zealand Government despatched the 
steamer "Stella" to the Kermadec Islands for the purpose of 
annexing them to the colony, and I was kindly granted permis- 
sion to accompany the expedition. My time was mostly given to 
an examination of the botany of the group; but while engaged in 
this work I was able to pay some attention to the fauna. We 
first landed on Sunday Island on the north side, and I then 
noticed (as in fact all the members of our party did) that the 
rocks in the vicinity of the landing place were covered with large 
limpets, four or live inches in diameter. Attempts were made to 
collect some of them, but they could not be reached from the 
boat, and the violent surf breaking on the rocks made it impos- 
sible to get at them from the shore. Two days later, we landed 
at Boat Cove, on the eastern shore of the island. In this locality 
the limpets were even still more plentiful, and as it was low water at 
the time I was able to knock several off the rocks with a spade. 
While I was on shore botanising our boatmen collected quite a 
large number, most of which were given to me. The next day 
they were seen in profusion on Meyer Island, an outlying rock 
on the north side of Sunday Island. In short, we noticed them 
on every part of the coast that was at all suitable; and I have no 
hesitation in saying that in calm weather it would be quite pos- 
sible to load a small vessel with them, so numerous are they. 
Afterwards, we found that they were equally plentiful on the shore 
of Macaulay Island and the other small islands of the group. 
Soon after my return to Auckland, I forwarded specimens to 
several of the New Zealand Museums, and to private collectors, 
both in New Zealand and abroad. Among others, several 
