Brown. — On Nciv Zealand Musci. 149 



ended in disappointment, no specimen being seen. Subse- 

 quently I reached Mr. Traill's Waterfall Run, at the head of 

 Paterson's Inlet, and quite unexpectedly found the plants I 

 had been seeking for so long growing at the end of the station 

 house in perfect condition and in great abundance, but, as in 

 the former case, they were confined to a small area. They 

 appear to be extremely local, and are perhaps rare. I have 

 seen them growing in no other place in New Zealand. 



After a careful examination of the perfect specimens the 

 previous diagnosis which I had made of this moss was con- 

 firmed — that, although approaching closely to the genus 

 Trematodon, it could not properly be placed in that genus, 

 owing to the absence of a peristome, and the calyptra being 

 mitriform. 



In order that the species may be properly placed, I have 

 created a new genus, which I have named Stirtonia, after Dr. 

 James Stirton, of Glasgow, an eminent cryptogamist, who 

 has contributed several papers on the plants of New Zealand ; 

 and the species is named after Mr. A. McKay, Geologist to 

 the Government of New Zealand. 



Stirtonia, gen. no v. 



Gapstile oblong, with a narrow struma. Operculum 

 oblique, conico-rostrate. Peristome none. Calyptra mitri- 

 form. 

 S. mackayi, sp. nov. Plate XVI. 



Plants annual, monoecious, growing in patches |- in. -fin. 

 high, simple or occasionally branched. Leaves distant, im- 

 bricating, spreading, llexuous, acieular from an erect sheath- 

 ing-base ; margins entu'e ; nerve stout, occupying all the 

 upper portion of the leaf. Areola : Upper small, dense ; lower 

 linear ; leaves scarcely altered when dry. PerichcBtial leaves 

 nearly erect, acieular from a large erect sheathing convolute 

 base. Fruit acrocarpous. Fruitstalk nearly erect, pale, 

 slender, fin. long. Capsule oblong-clavate, with a narrow 

 solid tapering struma. Operculuvi oblique, conico-rostrate, 

 slender, one-third the length of the capsule. Peristome 

 none. Calyytra mitriform, laciniated at the base, half the 

 length of the capsule. 



Hah. On wet turfy soil, Stewart Island; June, 1889, and 

 January, 1892. Collected by R. B. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVI. 



1. Capsule. 



2. Perichgetial leaves. 



3. First leaf outside pericbEetial 



leaves. 



4. Upper leaf. 



5. Middle leaves. 



6. Calyptra. 



