Colenso. — On Waikaremoana District. 375 



of dry and barren hills of broken lava, pumice, ashes, and other 

 volcanic matter, where the stunted vegetation was all but quite 

 burnt up with the exceeding heat of the sun's rays (it being 

 now midsummer), afforded but a very scanty gleaning to the 

 botanist. I was, however, rewarded with a few new plants 

 (their finding served richly to beguile the tedium of this day's 

 journey). Among them were a graceful species of fragrant- 

 scented Dracophyllum* a small shrub 2ft .-4ft. in height, which 

 grew sparingly in the little dells between the hills ; and two 

 curious and minute species of Composite, which formed dense 

 moss-like patches on the lumps of dry broken pumice. These 

 interesting little plants were scarcely above lin. in height, 

 presenting quite a unique appearance with their brown and 

 hoary leaves closely imbricated and decussated, and terminal 

 heads of yellow silky flowers. Here, in these sultry hollows, 

 the insect tribes were very numerous. Brilliant Libellula 

 darted about in every direction. I captured one fine fellow, 

 a species of Petalura, dappled with burnished gold, measuring 

 nearly -iin. in length ; others, having filiform attenuated 

 bodies, f were carmine - coloured, with elegantly - disposed 

 lozenge-shaped golden spots ; whilst others were adorned with 

 alternate stripes of black and ultramarine. Of the beautiful 

 genus Buprestis (or some very nearly allied genus) I gained 

 several specimens. Some of them were abundant on the 

 fragrant Dracopkylhim, allured, doubtless, by its scent and 

 honey. The moment, however, you attempted to take one, 

 down to the ground it would let itself drop, as if dead. The 

 greater number of the insects I obtained were quite new, 

 and of genera unknown to me. 



Towards evening we arrived in the neighbourhood of the 

 Eotorua lakes. Crossing a deep bog, I discovered a peculiar 

 little leafless monopetalous plant} growing in, or rather on, 

 the surface of the mud. On nearing Rangiwhakaaitu, the first 

 and southernmost lake, I was much gratified with the truly 

 lovelv appearance of a very beautiful species of Leptospermum 

 — a small tree of from loft, to 25ft. in height— which flourished 

 here, growing in clumps and rows as if artificially planted. 

 These trees were literally laden with a profusion of handsome 

 blossom, and (from there being no underwood about them, 

 not so much as a tuft of grass) looked conspicuously charm- 

 ing. Another circumstance appeared to me as being singular : 

 all were old trees of many years' growth, there not being any 

 small or young plants of the species to be met with. I say 

 old because the Leptospermum is a slow-growing plant. Be- 



* D. subulatum, Hook. 



f Agrion sps. 



\ Utrwularia protrusa, Hook. 



