18 Transactions. 



of the ascent where it is possible to go wrong ; but, as one may obtain such, 

 a clear view of the country by climbing one of the stunted beeches, losing 

 the way is a very unlikely contingency. The forest is Fagns Menziesii 

 and totara, wuth a little Fagus fusca. The occurrence of Phormiuni tenax 

 testifies to the open nature of the forest. Lomaria discolor, L. capensis, 

 snow-grass (Danthonia Cunninghamii), and Gleichenia Cunninghamii are 

 abundant. The country here is fairly level, and, viewed from the top of 

 a stvmted tree, shows Fagus Menziesii, with. Dracophyllum longifolium,. 

 with some Fagus fusca and totara, to be the main forest-growth. Occa- 

 sional kamahi, Myrsine salicina, Coprosma Colensoi, and C. foetidissima are 

 present. The totaras are deeply mossed with lichens to the topmost bough. 



Thence succeeds a wind-exposed slope, with stunted Suttonia divaricata 

 and other scrub breast-high, with Lycopodium and stunted Fagus Men- 

 ziesii and Weinmannia. 



At 2,500 ft. to 2,600 ft. the beech and totara trees are very gnarled 

 growths, with an underscrvib of Coprosma foetidissima. 



At 3,000 ft. (12.20 p.m.) the forest is gnarled Fagus Menziesii 40 ft. 

 high, with an underscrub of Coprosma fcetidissima, Panax arboreum, and 

 Suttonia divaricata. Astelia nervosa is common. The broadleaf {Griselinia 

 h'ttoralis) here attains a height of 15-20 ft., being quite a small tree. 

 HymenophyUum multifidum, Todea superha, and moss cover the forest-fioor. 

 Kaka and bell-birds are seen. 



At 3,100 ft. stunted Fagus Menziesii 14 ft. high at edge of bush, mossed 

 to the topmost bough, forms the dominant growth. The underscrub is 

 Pittosporum rigidmn, Senecio eleagnifoJius, and Coprosma cuneata. 



3,150 ft. We are out at last, and breathe the fresh air on the open 

 mountain-side. On the western face there is stunted Fagus Menziesii 3 ft. 

 high, and snow-grass, and then an alpine meadow containing Celmisia 

 spectabiUs (in flower), Carpha alpina, Drosera stenopetala, Caladenia bifolia 

 (in flower), moss, Forstera (in flower), Pentachondra pumila, Pimelia Gnidia 

 (in flower). 



3,350 ft. We encounter stunted scrub again on the south side of the 

 spur, chiefly Coprosma cuneata and Dracophyllum longifolium. 



On the east side the Fagus Menziesii creeps up to within 100 ft. of the 

 top, and affords a grateful shelter from the fierce sun, the beech-trees being 

 about 20 ft. high here. Directly one moves over to the western face the 

 trees are beaten down to a height of 3 ft., making it difficult to force a 

 passage through. 



3,600 ft. On the west side of the spur Olearia Colensoi (the mutton- 

 bird scrub) appears in thick shrubberies, broken by snow-grass meadows. 

 Ligusticum dissectum is in full flow^er. Entering the forest on the west 

 side to avoid the mutton-bird scrub, we meet with Olearia alpina, a hand- 

 some &hrub of most characteristic growth, resembling the lancewood 

 (Pseudopanax crassi folium). The floor of the forest is carpeted with filmy 

 ferns and Myrsine nummularia. Good progress is made, and the top of 

 the Quoin (3,900 ft.) is reached at 4 p.m. Although it has taken eleven 

 hours to climb to this height, allowance must be made for the fact that we 

 are cany in g heavy swags, and are not in the best condition. The day has 

 been very hot, and we are new to the route. Moreover, frequent rests for 

 taking notes and observations have been resorted to. 



Between the summit and the bush-line on the eastern face are a few 

 acres of mountain - meadow cojitaining many beautiful alpine plants. 

 Among the most noticeable are Aciphylla Colensoi, Ligusticum dissectum, 



