88 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XII, January, 1958 
TABLE 2 
Weather Data, by Months, Lord Howe Island 
BAROMETER 
TEMPERATURE (C.°) 
RAINFALL 
RELATIVE 
HUMIDITY 
CLOUD 
WIND 
Mm. 
Min. 
Max. 
Mean 
Days 
Mm. 
Per Cent 
0-10 
Direction 
1911 
July 
762 
13.1 
17.9 
15.5 
21 
192 
79 
6.4 
S.W., S.E. 
August 
764 
12.0 
17.4 
14.7 
22 
97 
75 
5.9 
S.E. 
September 
762 
13.6 
20.2 
16.9 
8 
154 
75 
7.1 
S.W. 
October 
764 
14.4 
21.5 
17.9 
11 
132 
66 
5.7 
S.W. 
November 
762 
16.8 
23.8 
20.3 
8 
91 
73 
5.6 
N.W., S.W. 
December 
757 
19.2 
26.1 
22.6 
6 
17 
73 
6.4 
N.W. 
1912 
January 
760 
18.8 
25.5 
22.2 
10 
83 
65 
6.2 
S.E. 
February 
762 
19.2 
26.1 
22.6 
5 
83 
66 
6.2 
S.E. 
March 
761 
18.3 
25.3 
21.8 
14 
73 
62 
7.0 
S.E. 
April 
762 
17.2 
23.4 
20.3 
14 
102 
71 
7.5 
S.W. 
May 
764 
14.1 
20.5 
17.3 
20 
113 
71 
6.4 
S.E. 
June 
766 
14.4 
19.2 
16.7 
15 
128 
72 
6.3 
s. 
Averages 
762 
15.9 
22.2 
19.1 
154 
1,265 
71 
6.4 
movements, but the theory now is held that 
the sand was deposited on the slanting sides 
of hummocks by the wind and hardened in 
successive layers when soaked with rain water. 
The absence of shells in the coral rock is 
considered evidence that wind also played a 
part in carrying the sand into position, as 
shells, being heavier, were not carried as far 
as the sand. 
There have been several uplifts on the whole 
island, and in one spot in particular the coral 
rock is seen about 400 feet above sea level. 
A portion of the west coast near the boat 
landing, seems to have sunk in recent times, 
as tree trunks and roots have been formed 
in position in the mud or sand, though now 
covered with 6 ft. or more of water at high 
tide. 
The soil on the lower parts of the island is 
very rich in places, especially those parts 
which have been fertilized by decaying ban- 
yan trees, etc. 
Most of the hill country is too rough and 
stony for cultivation, and the total area avail- 
able for cultivation does not amount to more 
than 2,000 acres (Figs. 3, 4). 
Before the advent of man on Lord Elowe 
Island the only animals that had any effect 
on the plant formations and the soil were two 
species of burrowing petrels, Puffinus carneipes 
and Pterodroma melanopus. In talus slopes near 
the sea these birds make their burrows each 
year, completely overturning the soil and re- 
plenishing it with a rich manure; but whether 
or not this process is essential to bringing 
forth the edaphic conditions which result in 
the tussock sedge and herbaceous plant for- 
mations found there is difficult to say. These 
birds may have played a part also in the 
destruction of fossils. 
VEGETATION 
Oliver (1917) has made an analysis of the 
flora, and has stated that the whole flora con- 
tains 209 species of plants, among which 70, 
or 33 per cent, are endemic. In this number 
are not included 30 species of introduced 
plants and all cultivated plants. 
Of the 169 genera of vascular plants 4 
genera are endemic ( Colmeroia and Hedyscepe 
are allied to New Zealand forms, Negria to 
