Colenso. — On a Collection of Ferns. 319 



List. 

 Of Cyathea, 3 species — dealbata, medullaris, and smithii, 

 ,, Dicksonia, 3 species — squarrosa, fibrosa (? " antarctica," H.B.K.), and 



lanata. 

 ,, Hymenophyllum, 10 species — tunbridgense, bivalve, multifiduni, javani- 

 cum, rarum, dilatatum, polyanthos var. sanguinolentum, demis- 

 sum, scabrum, and flabellatum. 

 ,, Trichomcmes, 2 species — reniforrne and venosum. 

 ,, Davallia, 1 species — novae-zealandise. 

 ,, Adiantum, 1 species — cunninghamii. 

 ,, Hypolepis, 2 species — tenuifolia, and distans. 

 ,, Pteris, 4 species — esculenta, tremula, scaberula, and incisa. 

 ,, Pellcea, 1 species — rotundifolia. 



,, Lomaria, 4 species — procera, fluviatilis, lanceolata, and discolor. 

 ,, Asplenium, 4 species — lucidum, falcatum, bulbiferum, and fiacciduni. 

 ,, Aspidium, 3 species — vestitum, ricbardi, and coriaceum. 

 ,, Nephrodium, 2 species — deconrpositirai, and bispidum. 

 ,, Polypodium, 7 species — gramrnitis, rugulosurn, pennigerum, rupestre, 



tenellum, pustulatum, and billardieri. 

 ,, Leptopteris (or Todea), 1 species — bymenopbylloides. 

 Total, 48 species of tbose published in the " Handbook." 

 Subsequently, 5 additional species (and one marked variety), all belong- 

 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. 



One 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 interlacing overhanging foliage softly waving in the breeze, was truly 

 enchanting, every vein and veinlet being highly translucent [hence, I had very nearly 

 specifically named it translucens~\, 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. 



