416 Traiisacliuiis. — Botany. 



forms me that it is more nearly allied to Davallia canariensis, 

 so common in the Canary Islands and Madeira, but is yet 

 quite distinct. As the plant requires a name, I have given it 

 that of Tasrnan, who was not only the first discoverer of the 

 group, but also of New Zealand, and whose name has not yet 

 been associated Avith any of its natural productions. It may 

 thus be characterized ; — 



Davallia tasinani, n. sp. 

 Ehizome stout and long, densely clothed with tawny subu- 

 late scales. Stipes rigid, smooth, 3in.-9in. long. Frond 

 4in.-12in. long, 3in.-9in. broad, deltoid, tri- or quadri-pinna- 

 tifid, very coriaceous, quite glabrous. Primary pinnte ovate- 

 deltoid, acuminate; secondary rather narrower; pinnules 

 lanceolate, cut down nearly to the base into 3-6 pairs of seg- 

 ments. Sori numerous, cup-shaped, sunk in the to^D of the 

 teeth, usually with a projecting horn on the outer side. 



The highest point on the island is about 995ft. above sea- 

 level. On the north it drops with a sheer precipice into the 

 sea ; and our sailors amused themselves by rolling stones over 

 the edge, and watching them fall into the water. We looked 

 directly on to the deck of the " Hinemoa," which, though 

 anchored quite half a mile from the shore, seemed to be 

 almost at our feet. The eastern side of the bay, with its 

 l)lack and frowning cliffs, was directly opposite to us. On 

 our left was the extreme western point of the island — perhaps 

 100ft. lower than where we were standing. The day was 

 beautifully fine, and the sea below us was hardly moved by a 

 ripple ; but the long ocean-swell, with its regular undulations,, 

 was plainly visible on its deep-blue surface. The only sounds 

 were the breaking of the swell against the cliffs and the cries 

 of the sea-birds on an isolated rock just beneath us, on which 

 our boatmen had landed in the hope of obtaining eggs. 



A large basin-shaped valley commences at the foot of the 

 peak, and occupies most of the centre of this portion of the 

 island. A pretty little stream flows through it in a southerly 

 direction, and is joined by several tributary rills on either 

 side. The valley is mostly covered with tall-growing tea-tree 

 from 12ft. to 25ft. in height, mixed with some shrubs and 

 small trees. Most of the interesting plants seen on the 

 island occur here. It was here that the first specimens of the 

 remarkable raratvopluH sviiihii were observed, a description 

 of which appeared in my previous paper. A new PittosporuDi, 

 was also collected, which I have named in honour of Captain 

 Fairchild, the well-known commander of the "Hinemoa." 

 'Panax lessonii, Melicoije ternata, Coprosma macrocarpa, and 

 Hedi/carya dentata were all plentiful. Along the edges of the 

 stream were several fern-trees, but only one species [Cyathea 



