AsToy. — Botanical Notes made on a Journey across the Tararuas. 19 



Celmisia spectabilis, Raoulia grandiflora, Senecio bellidioides, Phyllachne 

 Colensoi, Euphrasia revoluta, Suttonia nummularia, Gaultheria antipoda, 

 Pimelia Gnidia, Draco phyUum rosmarinifolium, Astelia nervosa, Carpha 

 alpina, Danthonia Raoulii, Ehrharta Colensoi. In the wetter parts are clear 

 pools of good water, surrounded by the interesting cushion-plant Oreobolus 

 pamilio var. pectinatus, mixed with Astelia linearis, Drosera stenopetala, 

 Pentachondra pumila, Forstera (?) Bidwillii, Caladenia hifolia, and Caltha 

 novcB'ZealandicE. A black bird, which may be a huia, is twice seen in the 

 •evening. A fine wild bull seems inclined to dispute possession of the 

 summit with us, but, being left alone, towards sunset, after the manner of 

 bis kind, he makes his way down into the valleys. Long after dark we 

 hoar the distant lowing of his mates. This and the mournful notes of 

 the ruru (morepork) are the only sounds which wake the stillness of our 

 first night on the hilltops. 



Sunday, 29th December. — -We had witnessed the sinking of the sun into 

 the south-western ocean the previous evening, and were this morning to see 

 it rise from the sea in the opposite direction. An interesting phenomenon 

 accompanied it. Before the edge of the sun appeared above the horizon, 

 one-half of the disc appeared below the horizon-line and nothing above it, 

 the effect being due possibly to reflection from a bank of clouds. 



After breakfast we start to ascend the northern arete to Mount Alpha, 

 and notice the rare Abrotanella pusilla in flower. The spur we now descend 

 has been burnt on the west side, but on the east side is virgin scrub, merg- 

 ing gradually into forest. The way is fairly easy, though beds of Astelia 

 nervosa occasionally impede us. The vegetation on this ridge is Coprosma 

 cnneata, Olearia lacunosa, and 0. ezcorticata, growing in great profusion ; 

 Phormium tenax (in flower), Gaultheria antipoda, Ligusticum aromaticum, 

 and a stout species of Uncinia ; while the only naturalised plant seen was 

 H ypoehceris radicata in the cattle-tracks. At the lowest point of the arete, 

 oOO ft. below the Quoin-top, Cordyline indivisa, Senecio eleagnifolius, Ole- 

 ■aria nitida, Gaultheria rupestris, Hoheria populnea, Danthonia Raoulii, 

 Ourisia Colensoi are common. 



At 3,800 ft. we commence the rise to Mount Alpha, and are on the open 

 mountain-side, with no scrub. Senecio Bidivillii (in bud) becomes common, 

 but Ligustieum dissectum is abundant. 



At 4.000 ft. Gentiana patula (in bud), Celmisia spectabilis, Oreomyrrhis 

 andicola, Dracophyllum rosmarinifolium. and Ligusticum dissectum are 

 abundant. Pipits and fantails are seen. 



At 4,200 ft. a small mountain-tarn gave us a grateful drink. Celmisia 

 hieracijolia (in flower), Ourisia ccespitosa, Veronica buxifolia (in flower), 

 Drapctes Dieffenbachii (in flower), patches of Raoulia grandiflora, Heli- 

 ■chrysum Leontopodium (in flower), Veronica Astoni, Bulbinella Hookeri, 

 Aciphylla Colensoi (in flower), Epilobium sp. (?), Poa, are the most notice- 

 able plants. On the rocks are many specimens of the vegetable sheep of 

 the Tararuas {Raoulia rubra). 



At 4,450 ft. by our aneroid we top Mount Alpha, and discover several 

 good mountain-tarns, but no firewood. There is the usual vegetation, 

 comprising most of the species noticed, and one notable addition, Celmisia 

 hieracifolia var. oblonga, a very diminutive variety of a handsome species, 

 and now recorded for the first time in the ISorth Island. Descending Mount 

 Alpha a hundred feet or so, at 4,300 ft. another tarn is passed ; then 

 a climb over an unnamed peak of 4,450 ft. On the other side of this 

 a remarkable instance of wind-action on vegetation is noticed. On a 



