88 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV. 



(Walter, 1904) resembles variety tenuior of P. trachyrachis 



more closely than it does the type specimens (glumes blunter 



and panicle less scabrous). 

 Danthonia setacea (F. v. M. ?), R. Br. In V\. Aust., vol. vii., p. 



595 (1878), as Victorian. 

 Stipa scabra, Lindl. In Fl. Aust., vol. vii., p. 570 (1878), as 



Victorian ; also in " Census," 1889. 

 Stipa micraniha, Cav. In "Census," 1889, as Victorian. 

 Stipa acrociliata. Reader. Recorded by Reader in Vict. Nat., 



vol. xiii. (1897), p. 167 (original description). 

 Lycopodium carolinianum, L. In " Census," 1889, as Victorian. 



Kapiti Island, N.Z. — Through the courtesy of the editor of 

 the Chemist and Drvggist, Melbourne, we have received a copy 

 of a report presented to the New Zealand Parliament of a much 

 more interesting character than the usual style of Parliamentary 

 papers. It is entitled " A Botanical Survey of Kapiti Island," 

 and has been written by Dr. Cockayne, of Christchurch. Kapiti 

 Island is situated in the northern portion of Cook's Strait, some 

 thirty miles north-east of Wellington, and only about three miles 

 from the shore of the North Island. It is one of the islands 

 which the New Zealand Government has set aside as sanctuaries 

 for plant and animal life, and, with the view of learning the 

 characteristics of its flora, Dr. Cockayne was instructed by the 

 Minister of Lands to undertake a botanical survey of it. He 

 appears to have done his work very thoroughly, and the way he 

 has put his observations together should form a model for future 

 work of the kind. According to his report, the island seems, from 

 its contiguralion, to have formed part of the land bridge which at 

 one time connected the North and South Islands of New Zealand. 

 It is only some 5,000 acres in extent, but its flora forms several 

 marked associations, in consequence of the influence of soil, 

 prevailing winds, and such like. Each is fully dealt with, and 

 though the species are different from those to which we are 

 accustomed, still it is easy to follow his remarks and apply his 

 deductions to the vegetation of our own State. A number of 

 excellent half-tone plates of characteristic features are included, 

 as well as a large scale map. He gives his opinion as to what 

 should be done to make the island a veritable natural botanical 

 museum, and says that all animals foreign to the island must be 

 got rid of, more especially the goats and cats, the former being, 

 of course, inimical to the flora, while the latter are a serious 

 menace to the bird-life, which in their absence would doubtless 

 become even more interesting than it is at present. A list is 

 given of some 250 endemic and 42 introduced plants. Copies of 

 the report can be obtained from the Government Printer, 

 Wellington, at a cost of one shilling. 



