207 



from those which prevailed before these great changes of the surface features 

 of the land were achieved ? Is not this great variability and indication of a 

 transitional epoch such as, so far as we know, no area of equal extent on the 

 surface of the globe offers us equal facilities for studying 1 These are questions 

 to which we need not despair of obtaining answers if the peculiarities of our 

 ovs^n local flora are assiduously studied, and the results obtained bi-ought 

 together for carefvil comparison, I leave it to those who have more intimate 

 knowledge of New Zealand botany to follow up an idea which I only venture 

 to throw out as an incentive to study. If by thus stating a theory I succeed 

 in stimulating the lovers of nature in Otago to closer and wider observations, 

 and induce them to send their notes to be read at our meetings, the information 

 obtained will be equally welcome, whether it support or destroy the hypothesis. 

 In connection with this part of my subject, the study of our fossil flora will be 

 of much importance, and I shall take the opportunity of referring to it again 

 when I bring up my remarks on the geological department of the Museum. 



One more point I will take leave to dwell upon before concluding. As I 

 have already stated, I think it highly improbable that the list of Otago plants 

 is at all nearly closed. Mr, Buchanan, in the paper already referred to, 

 catalogues 507 species of Otago Phcenogams (flowering plants). This is little 

 more than half the number already assigned to New Zealand by botanists. 

 Wide as is the geographical range of these islands, it is highly improbable that 

 so many as 500 species do not range throughout this extent, in localities suitable 

 for their growth. It is, on the other hand, probable that many entirely new 

 species will yet reward the diligence of our local observers, Dr, Lyall appears 

 to have reported the collection of several plants on the West Coast which have 

 not since been gathered there by botanists. No settlement having as yet been 

 planted there, this fact can hardly be deemed suspicious. But the list which 

 accompanies this paper, of flowering plants collected within the older settled 

 districts of this province by Dr. Lauder Lindsay, during a hurried visit in 

 1861, which have apparently escaped the notice of such indefatigable observers 

 as Hector and Buchanan, offers us still stronger evidence that there is yet 

 plenty of work to be done by local botanists, before we can ventui"e to say 

 what is to be fotmd in Otago and what is not,* 



Mr, Buchanan has added greatly to the value of his catalogue of plants by 

 affixing to each species letters and numbers indicating (1) the elevation at 

 which it is found, (2) whether it belongs to the east or west region of the 

 province or to both, and (3) its i-elative prevalence or scarcity. It would be 

 matter for wonder if all his determinations of these several particvilars should 

 remain unchallenged. It is possible, too, that clerical or typographical errors 

 may exist amongst these indices. It will be the duty of local observers 



* See Proceedings, p. 58. — Ed. 



