IN-NEW ZEALAND. 55 
breakfast. The river here is very shoal with a sandy bottom, 
which, together with the subsoil of the island on which we 
landed is of volcanic origin consisting of broken lava and 
pumice. I found nothing new among the vegetation of the 
islet. Near this place, the natives informed me, and at 
a short distance from the right bank of the river, is a 
large lake, in which are quantities of Kanae, (Mugil —) 
and Patiki, (Pleuronectes —) neither of which fish is 
found in the Waikato. The lake is named Waikare and 
runs into the Waikato a little lower down. As we proceeded, 
the banks of the river became more and more lovely being, 
in many places, clothed with the richest profusion of vegeta- 
tion to the water’s edge. Among the trees the Kahikatea 
(Dacrydium excelsum) was ever predominant. We noticed a 
Kauri (Dammara australis) to-day for the first time since we 
left the Bay of Islands; at seeing which my natives, whom 
I had brought with me from the East Coast, (and who had 
never seen one of these pines pe it not being found in 
those parts), were much gratified. 
"Towards evening we passed several islets in the : river, some 
of which were high and beautifully wooded, and noticed Da- 
erydium excelsum growing very close together in the forests. 
Gathered, overhanging the banks of the river, a specimen of 
Parsonsia with axillary inflorescence (239), which may, how: 
ever prove but a variety of P. heterophylla, as that plant 
continually varies in appearance, hardly two specimens being 
alike. I also obtained a specimen of a small weak plant with 
opposite obovate and sub-spathulate leaves (240) from inun- 
dated places near the river, which was new to me; I co 
not, however, detect it anywhere in flower. Two specimens 
of Epilobium, (241, 244) one (244) a very fine plant; a Myrio- 
phyllum (245) and a linear-leaved floating plant [ Potamo- 
geton?) (247) which grew in the water, I also procured in this 
locality. Brought up, for the night, on a little open flat on 
the left bank of the river. The mosquitoes, as might have 
been expected, were in interminable clouds and most annoying. 
