THE EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 61, 5 December 1907, Page 6

THE EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS.

I V THE SCIENTISTS IN WELLINGTON. , ' MEMENTOES OF THE TRIP. Tho North Island membors of tho scientific expedition which has been visiting the southern islands, accompanicd by Dr. L. Cockayne, F.L.S., of Christchurch, bringing his precious freight of island'birds, arrived in Wellington yesterday, lunchcd for tho last time togethor, and regretfully said' adieu. JBosides the birds, somo few interesting mementoes of tho expedition came up with thorn. Visiting Professor Kirk at Victoria College in the afternoon, a Pressman found him lovingly soaking in spirits two goldcncrosted ponguins, from Disappointment Island, and a. flightless duck, destined originally for a. happy future at Kapiti Island, but which, dying 'on the voyago thither, will probably adorn, in a Stuffed state, the Professor's interesting museum at the. College. One of the penguins,, stuffed, will' bo its rioighbour in educational utility, the other penguin being reduccd to an . instructive, skeleton." Tho bright blue'flower of the veronica was another souvenir of Disappointment Island, where flowers that blossom 'white; or. nearly white,- in New Zealand take a bluo or purple tint. A ponguin's nest,'built of veronica leaves and tussock, rested in tho security'Of a cigar-box. ' It contained two. eggs, a large one and a small ono.' The small egg was probably'ah early one, which was no good, aiid tho bird had " tried again." A thick creeping stem of the stillbocarpa, a plant of the samo order as the ivy, formed another riiomento. .