178 Transactions. — Zoology. 



One vast forest extended, perhaps, from New Zealand to 

 Queensland on the west, and to Tahiti on the east. It may be 

 significant that this very ancient form of fauna is abundant on 

 the nikau {Areca sapida), and on the kiekie (Freycinetia banksii), 

 both of which belong to the most ancient forms of flora. The 

 nikau is a favourite for land- shells in any situation, but they 

 are found more numerously on it in deep shady valleys near the 

 banks of streams. The shells usually found are Carthaa kivi, 

 Patuhi huccineUa, P. corniculum, Phrixipiathus maria, Amphidoxa 

 chiron, and Ihalassin neozelanica. A couple of years ago, after 

 an unsuccessful search for land-shells on the main range of this 

 peninsula, I cut down a nikau [Areca sapida), and by examin- 

 ing each leaf right into the heart I found twelve different species, 

 chiefly of the genera Patuhi, PhrLvynathiis, and Psyra. 



The kiekie {Freycinetia banksii) usually contams the same 

 kinds of land-shells as those found on the nikau ; but, as a rule, 

 the less number of nikaus in the locality, the greater number 

 and greater variety of shells the kiekie affords. There is a 

 species of Phrixynathus, mentioned in the list appended, that 

 appears peculiar to this tree. 



The tree-fern is another very ancient type of flora, and here 

 also a successful search for land- shells can be made ; but they 

 are easily overlooked in the brown scales and decaying fronds, 

 except such conspicuous shells as Patula corniculum. 



1 have made a special trial of how many kinds of land-shells 

 con be gathered in and about the black tree-fern [Cyathea 

 medullaris), and the silver tree-fern [Cyathea dealbata) that formed 

 a grove, and there were found 19 different species. Of these, 

 6 were species of Patula, 3 of Phrixynathus, 2 oiFndodonta, 2 of 

 Therasia, 1 Ehm, 1 Amphidoxa, 1 Fruticicola and Thalassia neo- 

 zelanica. 



The land-shell last mentioned is the commonest found in 

 the bush. It is generally the first to meet the eye when the 

 day's search begins. This search is of course delayed until the 

 real bush track is entered on, that leads through the groves of 

 pukapuka {Br achy glottis repanda) that usually form the outskirts 

 of tlie forest. 



The large leaves accumulate in hollows, or near the roots of 

 the mahoe {Melicytus ramiflorus), or the pukatea {Atherosperma 

 nova-zealandia), or the taua {Perlsh)neidi<t taua), and these 

 piles of damp decaying leaves become a favourite haunt for 

 iihytida yreenwoodi, Thalassia neozelanica, and Phrixynathus 

 maria. Many other shells are also frequently found, but they 

 are usually dead ones. 



On advancing further, or rather climbing higher into the 

 bush, a place must be sought on the slope of a ridge, where 

 small stones are covered with black mould and decaying leaves ; 

 and, by patient search, small live land-shells will be found, 





