TIMBER. 361 



sembling in its yellowish tinge a well-oiled whale's 

 tooth (tabua), formerly esteemed the most precious 

 article in the group. The tree is from fifty to eighty feet 

 high, with spreading pendulous branches, presenting a 

 beautiful appearance. TheLeweninini (Dacrydium elatum^ 

 Wall.) is found in mixed forests from the sea-shore to 

 the highest peaks. The branches are very delicate, and 

 the youngest hang down in graceful fringes, clad with 

 needle-shaped leaves of about half an inch in length. 

 The slightest breeze and there is scarcely ever a calm 

 in Fiji causes the branchlets and foliage to tremble 

 (ninini), somewhat like our aspen ; hence the natives of 

 Ovalau have given it the name of " Leweninini." When 

 coming from Somosomo to Levuka, the crew on board 

 the ' Paul Jones ' gave me an account of a moving plant, 

 which they assured me grew in the mountains of Ovalau, 

 and which excited my curiosity in an eminent degree. 

 No sooner had I landed than two boys were dispatched 

 for specimens of the Leweninini ; but instead of bringing 

 this Dacrydium, they brought a club-moss, common in 

 the tropics (Lycopodium cernuum^ Linn.), and which I 

 found was termed Leweninini sa, on account of a certain 

 resemblance to it. Macdonald (Jour. Geog. Soc. Lond. 

 xxvii. p. 247) fancied this Dacrydium identical with the 

 New Zealand Dacrydium cupressinum, Sol. ; but this is a 

 mistake. He also expresses his belief that the wood 

 called Dakua salusalu is the produce of this tree, and 

 in this he is supported by Mr. Storck, who, being now 

 a permanent resident in Fiji, had ample opportunity to 

 go into the question. My inquiries respecting the last- 

 mentioned point have not been attended with success. 



