HorLowAv.—Studies in the New Zealand Hymenophyllaceae. TT 
Table C gives a general idea as to the greater amount of precipitation 
that takes place on these outliers and on Banks Peninsula than at 
Lincoln on the plains. It must be noted that at Oxford, Peel Forest, 
and more especially at Waimate, the meteorological observers are located 
at distances varying from two to five miles east of the mountain-base, 
and at Akaroa the data refer to sea-level. Undoubtedly, therefore, in 
each case the figures will show a lower rainfall than what is actually 
experienced on the mountain-slopes. This conclusion is well attested by 
data kindly supplied me by Mr. F. Akhurst, giving the rainfall for the period 
1911-20 at three different stations in the Waimate district—viz., “ Grey- 
lands," Waimate, and ^ Hiwiroa "—of which the first named lies three 
miles farther east than Waimate, and the last two miles west of Waimate 
in the direction of the hills. These data show that there is a very consistent 
increase in the precipitation as one passes westwards from “ Greylands "' 
towards the hills, the mean annual totals at the three stations for the period 
1911-20—viz., ‘‘ Greylands," 22-91 in.; Waimate, 26-02 in. ; апа“ Hiwiroa," 
29-74 in.—indicating very fairly what this increase usually amounts to. 
TABLE C. 
Years 1911—20. 
"uds | Oxford | Peel Forest | Waimate | Akaroa | Lincoln 
(750 ft.). | (900ft.). | (180ft). | (Seaevel. | (42 ft.). 
1 | 3 
Mean annual rainfall ol 3991 43-53 26-02 | 39-86 25-19 
Mean number of rainy days 113-40 118-80 129-70 | 93-00* 124-40 
| | 
* For 1917-20 only (one month omitted from 1919 and 1920). 
Whereas in Westland and on the eastern flanks of the dividing range 
the forest is still practically virgin, on the outlying Canterbury mountains 
Oxford, Mount Peel, and Mount Studholme makes it possible to gain a 
reliable idea as to the original distribution of the Hymenophyllaceae in 
these localities. 
(a.) At Mount Oxford the reserve forest covers the area included in the 
Cooper’s Creek watershed as it now exists, stretching in altitude from about 
1,000 ft. to 2,500 ft. Аз usual in southern-beech forest, the undergrowth 
is composed mainly of the beech seedlings and saplings, though a few shrubs, 
such as small-growing Griselinia littoralis and small-leaved coprosmas, are 
scantily present. In the narrow lateral gullies these shrubs are rather more 
abundant, and include the large-leafed araliads Nothopanax arboreum and 
Schefflera digitata, and occasionally also the small-growing tree-fern Alsophila 
Colensoi and the larger Cyathea dealbata. For the most part the forest-floor 
is open and dry, there are no epiphytes, and the ferns are confined to the 
smaller gullies and to the steep sides of the main stream-bed. 
Apparently only four species of Hymenophyllum are present. Of these 
H. villosum and H. multifidum are abundant in close colonies on the rocky 
walls of the main gully and on the mossy forested sides of all the gullies 
generally. Both are to be found: also, though less frequently, on the 
mossy floor of the terrace-forest, where the only other ferns present are 
the hardier species of Blechnum. H. sanguinolentum is the only lowland 
