74 Transactions. 
Throughout this eastern mountain rain-forest Hymenophyllum villosum 
is fairly abundant beth in moss on the floor and as a low epiphyte, 
other epiphyte being the small hardy Polypodium Billardieri, which also keeps 
to within a very few feet of the ground. H. multifidum, Н. flabellatum, 
and H. rarum are also present, though much less commonly, and always on 
shaded rock-faces or in other overhung places, the two latter species in 
small stunted colonies. The only other ferns to be met with are the hardy 
and widespread Polystichum vestitum, Blechnum penna marina, and B. vul- 
canicum (these three being abundant), such rupestral species of Asplenium as 
are widespread throughout the drier parts of the South Island, and also the 
untain A. trichomanes, although in damp gullies and hollows Blechnum 
capense, Gleichenia Cunninghamii, and Asplenium bulbiferum are not uncom- 
t is noticeable that Hymenophyllum demissum and H. bivalve, which 
tt trial or] iphyti ies in the western mountain forests, 
very few species which are at all abundant. 
In addition to the Hymenophyllaceae enumerated above as occurring 
on the eastern flanks of the main divide, H. Armstrongii was originally 
discovered (4) alongside waterfalls near the source of the Waimakariri 
River at an altitude of 3,800 ft., and probably exists elsewhere also in similar 
localities. H. Malingii occurs almost invariably on old large trunks of 
the kawaka, and it has been reported from the kawaka forest noted above 
as occurring at the head of the Rakaia River. The peculiar frond-form of 
a species, as noted in my first paper (18), is well adapted to withstand 
rying. 
B. The Intermediate Montane Area. 
. The neighbourhood of Cass (see maps on pages 73 and 76), which is situated 
on the Midland Railway at an altitude of 1,850 ft., may be taken as repre- 
senting more or less typically those montane tussock-grasslands of Canter- 
bury which lie between the dividing range and the more easterly outlying 
mountains. Through the kindness of Dr. C. Chilton, Professor of Biology 
at Canterbury College, I was able to stay for a few days at the College 
Biological Station at Cass, and from this as my centre tc examine the 
neighbouring country, and also the forests of the Waimakariri Valley. 
I desire to express my thanks to Dr. Chilton for the opportunity thus given 
me, and also to Mr. C. E. Foweraker, of the Biological Laboratory, who 
‚ accompanied me on these expeditions. 
There is a rain-gauge at the Biological Station, which is read at inter- 
vals, and from the data thus gathered it seems clear that the rainfall is 
The north-west showers frequently pass down the Waimakariri Valley, 
and so do not reach Cass, which lies two miles up a lateral valley. The 
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