Kingsley. — Botanical Notes. 305 



H. malingii. This beautiful fern is fairly plentiful on the 

 top of the range. 



H. rufescens. Also growing on the top of the range. 



H. demissum and subtilissimum. Of these, exceedingly large 

 and fine specimens were collected. 



Trichomanes strictum and rigidam. Both forms were grow- 

 ing luxuriantly near Puramahoi ; so also was 



T. colensoi, near the same locality. 



Cystopteris fragilis. Good specimens of this beautiful fern 

 were obtained on the limestone, Takaka Eanges. 



Lindsaya linearis, trichomanoidcs var. lessoni, Pteris 

 scaberula, tremula, incisa, and macilcnta, were also fairly 

 plentiful. 



Lomaria nigra and fraseri. Some remarkably fine speci- 

 mens were collected at Puramahoi. 



Gleichenia flabellata. Growing near Takaka. This is quite 

 new to this Island. 



Asplenium trichomanes, obtiisattimva,v.ly alii, and umbrosum. 

 Also noticed the latter abundant in Takaka Valley. 



Todea superba and Botrychium tcrnatum. Very fine speci- 

 mens of both between Takaka and Riwaka. 



Lycopodium billardicri between 5ft. and 6ft. long, and 

 Tmcsiptcris forsteri over 4ft. long, were collected, and I now 

 exhibit specimens. 



Mr. Bryant also found Senecio laxifolia and Arthropod ium 

 cirrhatum in flower, although so late in the season. 



In conclusion, I should like to add that the district appears 

 to be a perfect paradise for a botanist. The people are kind and 

 hospitable, and the weather we experienced was almost perfect. 

 The bush scenery is quite charming — that is, where the axe 

 of the settler has not yet destroyed it, or the fire-loving vandals 

 of these colonies have not desecrated it. One thing afforded 

 great pleasure, and that was the presence of many little native 

 birds ; whereas in the neighbourhood of Nelson one rarely sees 

 any, m consequence of the supineness of the authorities to the 

 wilful destruction by guns and catapults in the hands of boys, 

 who at every opportunity sally forth to gratify their blood- 

 thirsty proclivities by taking the lives of those confiding 

 insectivorous birds, designed by Nature to restrain the increase 

 of insect pests. The destruction of these birds in the near 

 future, I am convinced, will be looked upon as an irreparable 

 calamity. 



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