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6 LORD HOWE ISLAND.
trees, the Dwarf Mountain Palm {K. Moorei,) is confined to the summits
of Mounts Grower and Ledgbird. A very remarkable fact in connection with
the two lowland species, K. Forsteriana, and K. Belmoreana, and one I have
not hitherto seen mentioned, is worthy of record, and has a bearing on the
geology of the island. Wherever the soil is derived from the decomposition
of the Coral-sand rock, the Thatch Palm (A'. Forsteriana) exclusively
prevails, whilst the appearance of the Curly Palm at once indicates a volcanic
soil. So marked and constant is the position of the two palms, that it may be
taken in a general way as an index to the running of geological boundaries
between the two formations.
Mr. Moore says that the Thatch and Curly Palms "both grow to about the
same height, the highest observed being about 35 feet." In favourable
situations, however, these trees attain to a much greater stature than thirtyfive
feet. I was conducted by Capt. T. Nichols, a resident, to the " Yalley of
the shadow of Death," a gully on the eastern side of the Island, runningdown
to Middle Beach, where the finest palms are to be seen. Here the
Thatch Palm grows with clean, straight stem.s to heights of 60, 70, and in a
few instances to as much as 100 feet, the over-lapping leaves forming a complete
canopy above, producing a general gloom, well expressed by the name
conferred on the ravine.
The Physical Features of Lord Howe will be described in a subsequent
report, when dealing with the Greology.
The remarks which follow are intended to give a general outline of the
collections made by us, and an epitome of the zoology of Lord Howe Island,
so far as known.
Mammalia.—The first settlers date no farther back than about 1834,
when three New Zealand colonists are said to have taken up their residence
there with Maori women. Since then there has been a very sparse and
fluctuating population, but traces of aboriginal inhabitants have nowhere
been discovered . I made every effort to ascertain whether any remains had
been met with in caves ;
or traces of early man in the form of implements,
or rock paintings, but without the slightest success.
The only indigenous lower mammals existing on Lord Howe are bats, but
even these are not plentiful. A single specimen of Scotopliihis morio, Grray,*
similar to those obtained by Morton was shot by Mr. Unwin, and a
larger species was occasionally seen. The " gardens " and other clearings
are their favourite haunts, but they are sometimes seen flying around the
cottages. Mr. A. Morton, when on the island in 1882, reported the
existence of a flying fox,t but careful inquiry failed to elicit confirmatory
evidence of this, and none were observed by us. "We anticipated meeting
with bats in the Coral-rock caves at North Bay, one of the most favourable
habitats for them on the whole island, but not the slightest trace Avas
found.
Accordiug to Mr. Morton the shores are visited, especially during gales, by
seals, probably identical with one or other of the Australian species of
Arctocejihalus.
A mouse, said to have been introduced from Norfolk Island, is now
moderately common. It appears to Dr. Eamsay and myself to be a variety
of Mus musculus, with a larger proportion of yellow-tawny hair, mixed with
the fur of the back, than is usually seen in that species. It now frequents
the houses, but formerly infested the clearings in such numbers as to become
* Dobson (Cat. Chiroptera, Brit. Mus. 1888, p. 248) calls this Chalinolobus tuburculatus
Forster,
sp.
t Report to the Trustees, &c., loc. cit.,-p. 12.