174 Essays. 



IsTever having had an opportunity of botanizing in the Provinces of 

 Canterbury or Otago, I have felt unable to meet that portion of the Com- 

 missioners' request wbich embraces a comparative view of the floras of the 

 different provinces of the South Island. Under these circumstances, I 

 considered myself extremely fortunate in persuading my friend Mr. Travers, 

 lately of Christchurch, vrho is v^rell known to all students of I^ew Zealand 

 botany as one of its most zealous and active promoters, to place at my dis- 

 posal the result of his observations in this direction. Mr. Travers has 

 botanized both in Nelson and Canterbuiy, and to his explorations among the 

 mountains of both provinces, the scientific world is indebted for the discovery 

 of some very beautiful and remarkable novelties. I cannot do better than 

 append to this essay of mine the letter which he has kindly written me on 

 the subject. 



I forward also an account which I have received from Dr. Hector of the 

 most striking features of the flora of the Province of Otago, more especially 

 having reference to the grouping of plants in certain zones shown to be 

 dependent on climatic conditions, these in their turn dependent upon alti- 

 tude above the sea level, and the position and arrangement of the mountain 

 masses, as affecting above all the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. I 

 am sure that this communication will be read with great interest. The 

 ground it enters on has been hitherto untrodden, and the well-merited repu- 

 tation of the author, not only as a distinguished geologist but an acute and 

 accurate observer in every department of natural science, must give to his 

 remarks a more than ordinary interest, and be a guarantee for their scientific 

 accuracy. 



BemarJcs on a Comparison of the general Features of the Flora of the 

 Provinces of Nelson and Marlborough loitli that of Canterlury ;* in a 

 letter addressed to Sir David Monro. By W. T. L. Tkaveks, F.L.S. 



\_Dated at Nelson, 11th October, 1864.] 



I TEEL some hesitation in entering upon so difiicult a subject as a comparison 

 of the floras of the Provinces of Nelson and Marlborough on the one hand 

 and that of Canterbury on the other ; and but for the fact that you permit 

 me to confine myself to the question in its very broadest aspects, I should at 

 once have pleaded my inability to enter upon it. 



* This letter by Mr. Travers was farnishecl by Sir David Monro, as supplementing the 

 foregoijig essay. — Ed. 



