CotEenso.—On a Collection of Ferns. 319 
List. 
Of Cyathea, 8 species—dealbata, medullaris, and smithii, 
» Dicksonia, 8 species—squarrosa, fibrosa (? “ antarctica,” H.B.K.), and 
lanata. 
» Hymenophyllum, 10 species—tunbridgense, bivalve, multifidum, javani- 
cum, rarum, dilatatum, polyanthos var. sanguinolentum, demis- 
sum, scabrum, and flabellatum 
» Trichomanes, 2 species—reniforme and venosum. 
» Davallia, 1 species—nove-zealandie. 
» Adiantum, 1 species—cunninghamii. 
» Hypolepis, 2 species—tenuifolia, and distans. 
» Pteris, 4 species—esculenta, tremula, scaberula, and incisa. 
» Pellea, 1 species—rotundifolia. 
» Lomaria, 4 species—procera, fluviatilis, lanceolata, and discolor. 
» Asplenium, 4 species—lucidum, faleatum, bulbiferum, and flaccidum. 
» Aspidium, 8 species—vestitum, richardi, and coriaceum. 
» Nephrodium, 2 species—decompositum, and hispidum. 
» Polypodium, 7 species—grammitis, rugulosum, pennigerum, rupestre, 
tenellum, pustulatum, and billardieri. 
» Leptopteris (or Todea), 1 species—hymenophylloides. 
Total, 48 species of those published in the ** Handbook." 
Subsequently, 5 additional species (and one marked variety), all bear 
ing to 4 of those same genera, have been discovered in that same small area 
of woodland by me, and described in the Trans. N.Z. Inst., vols. xi. and 
xii., viz. :— 
Cyathea polyneuron.* 
* As I was writing, primarily, on the number of those ferns published in the “ Hand- 
book N.Z. Flora ” which I had found in this one spot, I purposely omitted any reference to 
this tree-fern (C. polyneuron) when remarking on the lovely scenery of that place; this 
plant being a recent discovery. But this large and graceful fern-tree, with its ample 
drooping fronds, adds much to the living beauty of that landscape. 
me of the prettiest fairy-like scenes I ever saw in our New Zealand woods, I have, on 
more than one occasion, witnessed, when reclining on the grass under the shade of one of 
these tree-ferns. It was noon, and the summer sun was high, and the view, on looking 
up through the sp al overhanging foliage softly waving in the breeze, was truly 
enchanting, every v and veinlet being highly translucent (hence, I had very nearly 
specifically named it seb and then the green of its arched fronds was of such a 
delicate hue, such a truly sparkling living green without a blemish. The finely-marked 
ever-changing traceries, and glints and gleams of vertical sun-light peering down through 
the many myriad veins in that living bower, on those occasions, were far beyond language! 
At such times one no longer wonders at our forefathers deeming those evergreen recesses 
and bowers to be the beloved haunts of wood nymphs and dryads, fays, fairies, and pixies 
—a belief also firmly and pleasingly held by the ancient New Zealander 
