304 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
stipes, and which, in the living state, act like joints, permit- 
ting the delicate foliage to play up and down with every 
breeze of wind. Lomaria Fraseri, a very pretty fern, often, 
when growing in its favourite humid woods, attains an arbo- 
rescent character. Once, when returning from Wangerei 
Bay, I passed through a dense and wet forest, where this 
graceful plant abounded. I gathered two specimens (one of 
which I now forward to you) and much wishing to preserve 
them entire, I carried them both for many a weary 
mile, through thick jungle and forests ; sometimes protecting 
them with the flap of my coat, and sometimes with my body, 
from the Rubus and other shrubs which seemed determined 
on destroying my prizes. But I had the satisfaction of bearing 
them home uninjured. 
In a phial you will find specimens of what I believe to be 
the true Larva of Spheria Robertsii* These larve are 
abundant in their season, on the foliage of Batatas edulis (? ) 
the Kumara of the New Zealanders ; to the great distress of 
the natives, who cultivate this root as a main article of their 
food, and whose occupation, at such times, is to collect and 
destroy them, which they do in great numbers. "They vary à 
little in colour, as may be observed in the specimens sent. 
The New Zealanders call them Hotete and Anuhe (the same 
names which they apply to the Spheria Robertsii itself), ae: 
always speak of them as identical with that Fungus. 
common belief is, that both (those living on the Kumara d 
those which bear the Fungi), alike descend from the clouds ! 
this opinion doubtless arising from their sudden appearance 
and countless numbers. 
A moth from the larve also accompanies the above, for 
I have fully satisfied myself of their identity. In 1836 I kept 
the larve under glasses, and fed them with the leaves of 
Kumara (much to the annoyance of the natives), until the 
perfect insect was produced. There cannot reasonably exist 
a doubt that this insect deposits or drops some of her eggs 
* Of Hooker, Zcones Plantarum, Vol, 1. Tab. xi. 
