to the European forms. The amount of variation exhibited by the last 

 gr-oup, and by the chief portion of the third gTOiip, was very limited, 

 but in the second group, judging from a careful examination of the 

 extensive series of specimens in the Colonial Herbarium at Wellington, 

 variation was so excessive that it was in many cases difficult to identify 

 the plant from dried specimens. He had not had the opportunity of 

 examining these plants in the recent state, but the theory most generally 

 accepted as to the cause of the variation was, that alterations of the con- 

 ditions of existence had gradually produced permanent modifications of 

 form ; and it was urged in support of this view, that the amount of 

 variation exhibited by a species or variety found in different localities 

 was but trivial, if its habitats resembled each other in the characters of 

 soil, shelter or exposui-e, and temj^erature. The truly alpine species 

 exhibited but a small amount of variation ; in this respect resembling 

 the lowland herbaceous forms V. elongata, V. anagallis, etc. 



6. On a supposed Native Eat, observed at Whangarei. — Extract 

 of a letter from Mr. J. Martin to Cajitain Hutton. 



" In accordance with your request I beg to furnish you with such 

 particulars as I can remember of a strange species of rat, seen by me at 

 Pauia Bay, Whangarei, in June, 1869. 



" At daybreak I was awakened by the clattering of a rat among 

 some plates left on the table in an adjoining room, and when I went to 

 drive away the intruder I found it quietly eating some pumpkin seeds 

 and taking no notice of my presence. * * * Its appearance was 

 somewhat different from the common rat ; it measured about six inches 

 from the tip of its nose to the root of the tail, and the tail was about 

 seven inches long ; it was mouse-coloured, and darker on the back ; it 

 had large ears, erect and forward, and bright eyes, and as it sat upon its 

 haunches reminded me of a squirrel. 



" Relating the extraordinary docility of this rat to a friend the next 

 day, he supposed that it must have been a Native Rat. * '^ * 



"I have also heard of one or two animals supposed to be native rats 

 (from their small size, light colour, and extraordinary tameness), having 

 been seen at Maungatomoto, Kaipara, and which made no attempt to get 

 away when they were about to be killed. 



" Upon a range of hills through that district there are several pits ; 

 and a settler there (Mr. J. Kendall) told me that the Maoris had informed 

 him that these pits were dug out as trajDS or preserves for native rats." 



Mr. Kirk stated in reply to a question from Captain Hutton, that 

 the rat observed by him at Great Omaha, and referi'ed to at the first 



