60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



The Waipoua (N.Z.) Kauri Forest. — The New Zealand 

 Department of Lands has recently issued another of Dr. 

 Cockayne's valuable reports, this time on the Waipoua Kauri 

 Forest, situated near the west coast of the North Island, about 

 no miles north-west of Auckland and lo south of Hokianga 

 Harbour. The report is on similar lines to that on Kapiti Island, 

 noticed in these pages some time ago, but, entering into more 

 minute details, is even more interesting. The area under notice 

 covers about 23,000 acres, and, while termed a Kauri forest, is 

 far from being covered to any great extent by that tree, and, in 

 fact, the Tarairi, Beilsclmiiedia tarairi (Lauraceae), is a more 

 frequent tree ; still, the forest contains many fine Kauris, Agathis 

 australis, and the author considers that the area should be 

 absolutely closed to timber-getting, for, as he points out, unless 

 this is done, a Kauri tree will be as rare as a Moa in New 

 Zealand in less than twenty years. It is hoped, for the benefit of 

 future botanical students, that this will be done, and especial care 

 taken of the area to prevent fire undoing all the work of legisla- 

 tion. Dr. Cockayne's report is interesting from the way in 

 which he considers the varied aspects ot the different plant 

 associations, and he concludes by saying that if allowed to be 

 invaded by timber-getters there will pass away from the face of 

 the earth a scene that will never be replaced, and while such 

 fiords, glaciers, and hot lakes as those of New Zealand occur in 

 other parts of the globe, nowhere else does a Kauri forest exist. 

 Hence, if only for the sake of future generations, it should be 

 preserved. The report contains a number of beautiful and 

 characteristic illustrations, which give a splendid idea of the 

 vegetation, while a complete list of the flora, amplified by notes 

 on the distribution and life-form of the species, with English and 

 Maori names, is given. In all, 241 species are recorded. A 

 useful bibliography and map complete the report. 



Alg/e of the Yan Yean Reservoir. — In the Journal oj 

 the Linnean Society (London) — Botany xxxix. (1909), pp. 1-88 — 

 Professor G. S. West, D.Sc, F.L.S., has published an exhaustive 

 illustrated report on the algse of the Yan Yean Reservoir, which is 

 important from the fact that it is the first plankton investigation 

 of Australian fresh waters. The report is based on the monthly 

 examinations of the reservoir and its surroundings, made by Mr. 

 A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., who has recently been appointed honorary 

 algologist to the Metropolitan Board of Works. Prof. West says 

 the phyto-plankton of the reservoir is rich both in number of 

 species and individuals. Its desmid-flora is also rich, and in 

 this respect compares well with British lakes. Over 300 species 

 of algse are recorded from the Yan Yean drainage area. Of these 

 14 species and 11 varieties are described for the first time, and 4 

 species and 5 varieties, previously only partially described, are 

 now dealt with in greater detail, and figured for the first time. 



