252 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
themselves that they were at last in presence of the famous Zerra 
Australis incognita. If, on afterwards finding two large and a 
number of small islands, which together they named New Zea- 
land, they experienced a certain amount of disappointment, the 
glory of the discovery made them forget it. Captain Marion du 
Fresne had, in 1772, conducted two French vessels, the “ Mas- 
carin” and the ‘“ Marquis-de-Castries,’ to the Bay of Islands, 
and Crozet, the historian of the voyage and the narrator 
of the massacre of Marion and his convoy, had declared 
that New Zealand appeared to him like a large mountain which 
had formerly been part of a vast continent. This was the simple 
impression of a sailor who was gifted with observational powers. 
No one, it appears, has since given a thought to it. Now, how- 
ever, it is no longer a question of more or less correct impres- 
sions ; very positive ideas must lead us to results of a purely 
scientific character, and to strictly rigorous demonstrations. 
Nature herself furnishes us with abundant proofs that in recent 
ages of the earth, perhaps even at a period not very remote from 
the present, there existed a true continent in the southern por- 
tions of the Pacific Ocean, of which New Zealand and the small 
adjacent islands are the remains. 3 
“On arriving in New Zealand,” says Sir Joseph Hooker, “we 
find ourselves surrounded by a vegetation which is almost new. 
In addition to this peculiar vegetation, however, plants belonging 
to Australia and America occur in considerable abundance.” 
While New Zealand was still in its original state, before 
being invaded by Europeans, the traveller was struck with the 
abundance of its ferns. His admiration was called forth by the 
tree-ferns (Cyathea) which crowned the summits of the hills; by 
the occurrence in many places of Lycopods, which are the largest 
among all now existing species, and the nearest allies of those 
which flourished in the carboniferous period ; and by a graceful 
palm (Areca satida) ; various plants of the lily family appeared 
to be characteristic of the region, such as the famous Phormium, 
and several species of Cordyline. 
In this part of the world the forests, which are now very 
much destroyed, have a grand appearance, which is due to the 
occurrence of superb coniferous trees; Red Pine and Totara 
(Podocarpus ferruginea and P. totara), some kinds allied to 
Cedars (genus Lzbocedrus), a kind of Thuja with pale foliage 
(Dacrydium cupressifolium) ; and under the milder climate of the 
northern portions of the islands, towering above all by its colos- 
sal proportions and distinguished by its beauty, the Kauri Pine 
(Dammara australis). Mingled with these occur species of Pro- 
teacee (Knightia), of Rhamnaceze (Pomaderris), and elegant 
Myrtles (Leptospermum and Metrosideros). 
On the west coast of the South Island the forests are chiefly 
composed of conifers, together with some leguminous plants 
(Carmichetia sp. and Sophora tetraptera), liliaceous plants (genus 
Elowocarpus), and Myrtles (Metrosideros lucida, etc.). In the 
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