GENERAL NOTES. 129 
at or near Pirongia and Karioi; while its southern one is the 
Waitieka stream, a tributary of the Wangaehu, flowing into that 
river from its western side, about twenty miles south-west of 
the summit of Ruapehu. In fact, it appears to grow only in the 
birch forest of which that stream forms the southern boundary. 
In the same way, in travelling westwards from Murimotu to the 
Wanganui river, it abounds in the birch forest, but disappears 
directly one crosses the Waione stream, which separates the 
birch forest from the ordinary New Zealand bush. It is not 
invariably found only on rotten logs, but also grows on the 
trunks of birch and other trees, and among the moss and dead 
leaves on the ground; it appears always to require thick moss 
as a protection to its roots. 
Dicksonia lanata and Lomaria vulcamca appear in the same way 
in the birch forest only, while Todea superba, Polypodium australe, 
and Hymenophyllum pulcherrimum and bivalve become suddenly 
plentiful. 
In regard to the vertical distribution of ferns in the same 
district, Mr. Field also communicates the following remarks. 
The maximum elevations at which certain ferns occur are as 
follow :—Adiantum diaphanum, 3-400ft.; A. fuluum, 1oooft.; A. 
affine, 2000ft.; Lindsaya viridis, 500ft.; Pterts macilenta, 1oooft. ; 
P. scaberula, 1500ft. Again Lomaria alpina, Lindsaya linearis, and 
Ophtoglossum vulgatum, which, near the coast, are only found 
sparingly in moist and thoroughly sheltered spots among tall 
manuka scrub, grow abundantly, though in stunted form, among 
the grass on the sandy soil of the Murimotu Plains, where they 
are exposed to fierce solar heat and violent winds ; but plants 
brought from Murimotu will not bear exposure near the coast. 
Nephrodium thelypteris occurs in Sphagnum swamps all along the 
north side of Cook Straits, though rarely; but has not been 
found in similar swamps at any altitude greater than about 
300ft., though Gleichenia circinata and dicarpa, which generally 
accompany it, are found certainly up to 3000ft. above sea level. 
Of local forms, Adiantum formosum abounds all around Palmerston 
north, in the valleys of the Manawatu, Oroua, and Pohangina. 
The sandy alluvium on the banks of the Manawatu suits it so 
well that fronds five feet high, with 50 to 60 branches, and over 
1000 pinnules are common. Hypolepis millefolium, an alpine form, 
is reported to occur at Moutoa, near Foxton, at only a few feet 
above sea level ; while Lygodium articulatum, a northern torm, has 
been found at Rangitikei. 
FLOWERS AND FoLK-LoRE.—At the distribution of prizes to 
the succesful candidates in the botanical examinations held 
recently in Sydney by Mr. C. Moore, F.L.S., Dr. Geo. Bennet, 
F.L.S., delivered an interesting address to the students, from 
which we make the following extracts :—“ With regard to the 
intelligence and observation of the aborigines of Australia with 
regard to flowers, the Australian blacks on the coast are expert 
fishermen, and are aware of the season of particular kinds of fish 
