354 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



contagion around. Science had not then burdened the mis- 

 guided mosquito with sins of transmission, as well as of 

 commission. Fortunately, New Zealand does not possess the 

 malaria carrying mosquito (Anopheles), and so her mangrove 

 forests, in spite of their foul appearance, are no more dangerous 

 to human life than any other part of the country. Indeed, at 

 high tide, a mangrove swamp is often a pleasant place to punt 

 in, for then the somewhat sickly odour of the mud, is replaced 

 by the fresh smell of the sea. 



Nor is the New Zealand mangrove so ugly, as those of more 

 tropical regions. The gruesome conception of the mangrove 

 forest existing in the minds of most people, is doubtless derived 

 largely from the well known word picture of Kingsley's " West- 

 ward Ho." The passage begins : " The night mist began to 

 steam, and wreath upon the foul beer-coloured stream," etc. 

 Then follows a description of the hoarse night raven ; the 

 loathly alligators lounging in the slime ; the sad-coloured 

 mangrove-hens wailing sadly ; and the great purple crabs 

 crawling over the snake-like roots. Of these hideous accessories, 

 only the mangrove-hen (the weka), and the crabs, are to be 

 found in New Zealand. 



Life in the Mangrove Swamp. 



The twisted and gnarled stems and roots give to the tree an 

 unwarranted appearance of age, so that even the youngest 

 mangrove looks old. Barnacles and oysters fix themselves 

 upon the roots which are uncovered by the withdrawal of the 

 tide ; eels wriggle in and out of their holes, and the mass of 

 fibrous rootlets which forms a mat beneath the mud, provides 

 dwelling places for innumerable blue and red crabs. These 

 are sought after, not only by the sober-hued wekas, but also 

 by the beautiful kingfishers. A dark-coloured fish, with curious 

 flexible dental plates, may frequently be seen swimming over 

 the flats at low tide, so that there is no lack of life in the 

 swamp. 



