Kirk. — On the Lake Bistrict of the North Island. 335 



mosses and lichens, in which the epiphytic Chiloglottis traversii attains its 

 northern limit in company with the common Thelymitra longifolia and Ortho- 

 ceras solandri. Raoulia monroi attains here its northern limit, and forms 

 small patches on the bare surface, but of so inconspicuous a character that it 

 might easily be overlooked but for the white silky hairs displayed by the 

 recurved margins of the leaves. Olearia furfuracea and Corohia buddleoides 

 have not, I believe, been recorded from a more southern locality, or a greater 

 altitude. Braco'phyllum longifolium occurs sparingly, and attains its northern 

 limit; it has not previously been recorded as occurring in the North 

 Island. Panax colensoi is the most prominent shrub, forming handsome 

 dwarf bushes, widely different from the small tree-like habit it assumes at its 

 northern limit on the Cape Colville ranges. It affords a welcome shelter to 

 Hymenophylluni bivalve^ H. multifidurii, and a few other ferns more or less 

 common; the total number of species collected above 3,000 feet did not 

 exceed seventy, but owing to the approach of night I was able to examine 

 a small portion of the central range only. Still, making every allowance, 

 the vegetation of the mountain comprises a remarkably limited number of 

 species. 



Waihorepa. 

 The Waihorepa valley, about two miles from Kaitiriria, appears to have 

 been the bed of an ancient lake, and is remarkable for the singular fissures 

 and holes which break its surface, and have probably been caused by earth- 

 quakes. The most striking of these fissures extends for more than half a 

 mile, although much interrupted, and in the deepest places affords a favourable 

 habitat for several plants of a southern type. Clematis colensoi, Cyathodes 

 empeti'ifolia, and Lomaria alpina, probably attain their northern habitat in 

 this singular locality. Graspedia fimhriata grows to a large size, and the 

 charming terrestrial orchid Corysanthes rotundifolia is found sparingly. The 

 luxuriant vegetation of the fissures contrasted forcibly with the dried grasses 

 and stunted shrubs which marked the level of the plain, where the only plants 

 worth notice are Dracophyllum suhulatum and Poa australis, var. Icevis, with 

 tufts of Celmisia longifolia, which is known all through the district as 

 " cotton-grass." 



Otumakokori. 

 At the foot of the Paeora range several tropical ferns exhibit the greatest 

 vigour and luxuriance in an atmosphere of heated steam on the banks of the 

 Otumakokori — the boiling river. Near the source of this remarkable stream 

 are a number of boiling springs, some of which have their origin in cavern-like 

 recesses, others in holes eight to fifteen feet in depth, boiling wells in fact, 

 but most of them sufficiently large to allow of their investigation by anyone 



