540 Proceedings. 



Zealand Thuiaria differed sufficiently from T. articulata to warrant its being 

 made into a separate species, as Dr. Couglitrey proposed. 



3. "Notes on Rare Ferns," by P. Thomson. 



The two mounted ferns on the table were discovered by Mr. Purdie and 

 myself during a walking tour we made to some of the southern districts of the 

 province during the month of March last. They are believed to be new to 

 the district, or at least have never been described before. 



The first one is a Lomaria, and was found growing among L. hanksii, but 

 diffei'S from it in several particulars. The locality was a small rocky bay not 

 far from the Nuggets, and the plants were gi'owing almost within reach of the 

 breakers at high water. It is to be regretted that neither of us were provided 

 with anything for the safe carrying of botanical specimens, having left our 

 usual impedimenta behind at the hotel at Port Molyneux, in order to lighten 

 the walk along the beach. The specimens had consequently to be crammed 

 into a bag, by which they were mostly a little damaged. 



The fern above spoken of has been since determined to be Lomaria dura. 

 The circumstance is very interesting, as the fern has not hitherto been found 

 on the mainland, but was supposed to be entirely confined to the Chatham 

 Islands. 



The second specimen is evidently an Alsoj^hila, resembling A. colensoi. 

 It was gathered in a patch of bush on the north side of the river Pueiiia, not 

 far from the residence of the Hon. Mai or Kichardson, at Willowmead. It 

 was growing in a rather densely crowded spot, the trees high overhead and 

 close undergrowth. The fronds of the plant from which the specimen was 

 taken were about four feet long, but the stem was short. 



Since then Mr. Purdie has discovered another variety of Also2)hila, which 

 differs from the other in having the pinnse forked or branched. From the 

 midrib of the frond proceeds a short stem, which immediately divides into two 

 pinnae radiating from each other at a considerable angle, and, as the pinnae are 

 opposite, the variety is a very beautiful one indeed. The locality where this 

 Alsophila was discovered is a small clearing near the top of Pine Hill, 

 Dunedin. 



Mr. Kirk remarked that although the ferns named could not be considered 

 in any way new, yet the occurrence of Lomaria dura in the South Island was 

 of great interest. Previously it had only been known as a native of the 

 Chatham Islands, where it was first discovered by Archdeacon W. L. "Williams 

 about ten or eleven years ago, and subsequently collected by Captain Gilbert 

 Mair, and afterwards by Mr. Henry Travcrs in his investigation of the flora and 

 fauna of those groups. Tlie structure of the fertUe frond approached close to 

 L. hanlcsii, but it was of much greater size, while the barren fronds closely 

 resembled those of L. discolor. The Aldojjhila was simply a fern with 



