IN NEW ZEALAND. 49 
very near in habit and affinity to A. Colensoi. I did myself 
the honour and pleasure of naming this graceful Fern in 
compliment to my much respected and talented friend 
J. D. Hooker, Esq., M.D., who, in the capacity of Natu- 
ralist, visited these islands in H.M.S. “ Erebus,” (one of 
the Antarctic Discovery Ships) in the winter of 1841. 
In a thicket in this neighbourhood through which we passed, 
I detected a graceful shrab of very slender habit (234) with 
peculiar hairy (strigoso-hispid) bark. This plant has only 
a few divaricated branches, and attains to the height of 6—9 
feet. Proceeding hence we suddenly came upon a most re- 
markable subsidence of the earth in the midst of a large plain. 
After descending through a rapidly inclining and narrow 
defile having sandy opes on either side (on which in dense 
patches grew that little plant I had found in low sandy 
places in Waiapu valley on the east coast, no. 29), I reached 
a level also of sand, and destitute of the least blade of 
vegetation ; thence I descended an almost perpendicular 
descent knee-deep in sand to another level, where a subject 
for contemplation and astonishment presented itself. On all 
sides rose perpendicular and sandy cliffs, varying in height 
from 150 to 200 feet, for the most part white and sterile 
and composed of loose volcanic sand and pebbles to their 
very bases. At the bottom of this immense ravine a gentle 
Stream wound its silent way, whilst a little further whole 
trees dead and charred (from whose sides the loose sand, &c., 
had been removed by the action of the winds and rains) 
stood erect, in the spots where many years ago they once 
grew at a depth from 1 to 200 feet below the present 
level of the soil!! Igreatly regretted my being so much 
pressed for time in passing this place (called by the natives 
Piarere), but the Sabbath drew nigh, we had no provision, 
with several miles yet to go ere we should reach a village, 
and the loose sand through which we were now toiling we 
often sunk in up to our knees. Quitting this hollow, and 
ascending its S. W. side, I was again agreeably sur- 
prised and pleased in seeing the noble River Waikato, with 
VOL. III. E 
