546 Proceedings. 



and eiglity-seven species are common to both countries. All the genera are 

 represented by identical species, with the exception of Lygodium, Isoetes and 

 Pilularia, but only twenty-one species out of the eighty-seven are restricted 

 to the two countries. No endemic genus is found in Australia, but in New 

 Zealand the beautiful Loxsoma is limited to the country north of the Hauraki 

 Gulf. HymenojjJujllacecB are sparingly distributed in Australia, but owing to 

 the humid climate of New Zealand, are abundant and luxuriant. 



I purposely avoid going into detail on the various matters of debate 

 raised by the statement now made, but will briefly summarize the chief 

 conclusions to be drawn : — 



1. That the New Zealand flora is more closely related to the Australian 

 than to any other. Five-sixths of the genera, one-fourth of the species of 

 Phanerogamia, and more than one-half of the ferns being identical. 



2. That few or no Australian species have been added to the New Zea- 

 land flora, by means of aerial or marine currents. 



3. The direct connection between Australia and New Zealand must have 

 ceased (as stated by Professor Hutton from considerations based upon the 

 distribution of Animalia), not later than the cretaceous period, or a larger 

 proportion of Myrtacese, Proteacete, and other Australian types, would be 

 found in the New Zealand flora. 



4. The paucity of Eosacege and Labiatte in both countries affords proof 

 of the ancient isolation of both floras. 



6. The occurrence of single species of the characteristic genera of either 

 country in the other : — e.g., of Celmisia longifolia in Australia: — of F^mcris 

 jnirpurascens in New Zealand — afi'ords direct proof of the great antiquity of 

 the species, and of its having attained a maximum of stability under the 

 conditions which existed before the disruption of the connection between the 

 two countries. 



Dr. Newman, the President elect, thanked the meeting for the honourable position 

 in which it had placed him, and assured the members that the new office-bearers would 

 endeavour to do their best for the society during the coming year. 



1. " On Barat or Barata Fossil Words," by J. Turubull Thomson, 

 F.E.G.S., F.E.S.S.A. (Transactions, p. 157.) 



2. "Notice of the Discovery of Calceolaria repens, Hook, f., and other 

 Plants in the Wellington District," by Harry Borrer Khk; communicated 

 by Mr. T. Kirk. (Transactions, p. 466.) 



3. "Descriptions of new Plants," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. (Transactions, 

 p. 463.) 



