Geological Survey of Canterbury. 35 



It was quite late in the evening before we reached our camp again from 

 this peculiarly interesting mountain trip, which gave me another 

 insight into the great features of the Southern Alps. Another day 

 was devoted to a geological examination of the Sealy range, and we 

 then made the necessary preparations to return to lower regions. 



It might, however, not be uninteresting were I to give here a few notes 

 on the fauna and flora of this alpine region which is separated from 

 the rest by huge glaciers and deep and broad torrents. I have before 

 observed that although Lake Tekapo is only 2437 feet above the sea 

 level, no Fagus forest is found growing anywhere near it or along the 

 banks of the rivers by which it is fed, but on the shores of Lake 

 Pukaki (1717 feet) and along the valley of the Tasman river, almost 

 up to the terminal moraine of the Tasman glacier, small groves of the 

 obtuse leafed Fagus Cliffbrtioides, the White Birch of the settlers, is 

 found in many localities, and by which the vegetation obtains a more 

 diversified character, many spots having a park-like appearance. Thus, 

 close to our camp, several groves of well grown Fagus trees, producing 

 a striking contrast in colour and form with the surrounding vegetation, 

 were standing. They began some twenty feet above the valley and 

 terminated about 600 feet higher. With them not only a number of 

 the shrubs and trees usually found only in lower regions, such as 

 several species of Panax, Coprosma, Griselinia and many others were 

 growing most luxuriantly, but close to them stood true sub-alpine 

 forms of Olearia, Senecio, Cassinia, and Veronica, growing mostly in 

 well shaped semi-globular masses, and the two first filling the air with 

 an exquisite aroma. Besides these, several kinds of needle-shape leafed 

 Dracopkyllums, Flagianthus Lyallii with its light green serrated leaves 

 and large white flowers and the three remarkable Conifercs, Phyllolcadus 

 alpinus, Podo?arpus nivalis and Dacrydium Colensoi were very con- 

 spicuous. It is thus evident that some of the principal representatives 

 of the lower regions are here mixed with the sub-alpine and alpine flora. 

 Everywhere huge plants of Aciphylla squarrosa and Colensoi, the 

 Spaniards of the settlers, their flowering stems often ten feet high, were 

 growing where they found favourable ground. It is difficult to give 

 a conception of the variegated aspect of the vegetation in such a spot, 

 as all shades from nearly white to dark brownish-green, bluish and 

 yellowish tints are well represented, giving to the mountain side a 

 motley or chequered appearance. However, I have not alluded to 

 another feature of the flora of that region which still more beautifies 

 the landscape, and this is the occurrence of a number of splendid 



