Cross. — Observations on some Nexv Zealand Halophytes. 547 



It is perhaps worthy of note that in the channels, and also in the mud- 

 flats, are innumerable holes of small land-crabs {Heterograpsus crenulatus, 

 M. Edw.). Dr. Cockayne (xix, p. .316) is of opinion that these " must 

 assist materially in aerating the soil, and, to some measure, also in draining 

 the ground." 



For purposes of comparison, observations were made also along the 

 banks of the Avon, near New Brighton. Here there are practically the 

 same formations, though they are not in all cases made up of the same 

 members as those at Heathcote. In the salt marshes, for some reason, 

 Leptocarpiis simplex is much more in evidence than Juncus maritimus. 

 The salt meadows, however, are dotted with clumps of the latter rush. 

 Again, out in the meadows are wide pools of brackish water, much less 

 salt than that of the channels of Heathcote. Here there occur, in great 

 numbers, plants (wholly submerged in winter) of Miniulus repens and Cotula 

 coronopifniia ; the latter also a vigorous denizen of the salt meadows. 



Both New Brighton and Heathcote were visited from time to time — 

 Heathcote from April to October, New Brighton from July to October ; 

 but during the month of June some small amount of work was able to be 

 done at Timaru. Here there are a series of lagoons, separated from the 

 sea only by a very narrow shingle-bank. The first point noticed was that 

 here rushes and rush-hke plants do not form a characteristic feature of the 

 landscape. In the neighbourhood of the one lagoon which was compara- 

 tively easily approached, only one small tuft of J. marititnus Avas collected. 

 This, perhaps, may be accounted for by the fact that there are no mud- 

 flats, the soil being of a rather sandy nature. An even more striking fact 

 is that, whereas at Heathcote all the halophytes grow side by side in the 

 salt meadow, at Timaru comparatively large tracts round the edges of the 

 lagoon are occupied solely by Salicornia australis. One small hollow 

 stretching between two shingle-banks presented, in June, a very peculiar 

 appearance, for it was divided longitudinally into two almost equal halves 

 — one half thickly covered with withered mats of *S. australis, the other with 

 a bright-green turf of Cotula coronopifolia. On closer inspection, it was seen 

 that in this matted growth of Salicornia there were innumerable seedlings 

 of Cotula, which evidently could not find a foothold there while the Sali- 

 cornia was in a flourishing condition. All the typical plants of the salt- 

 meadow formation, except Samolus repens and Spergularia media, were 

 found out in the grass at the edges of the neighbouring fields. Some, again, 

 especially Selliera radicans and Apium prostratnni, have established them- 

 selves among the rocks of a railway embankment, and here also, though 

 nowhere else in the locality, are a few low grey bushes of Plaqianthus di- 

 varicatus. 



List of Species in Natural Orders. 



A. Cyperace^. 



1. Scirpus amcricanus, Pers. 



2. Scirpus lacustris, Linn. 



3. Scirpus maritimus, Linn, 



4. Carex litorosa, Bail. 



B. Restionace.*;. 



5. Leptocarpus simplex, A. Rich. 

 18*— Trans. 



