PROOFS OF RECENT SUBSIDENCE. 2a: 
central and eastern portions where the forests have been burned, 
there occur, in somewhat dense masses, various Veronicas and 
Campanulas (Wahlenbergia saxicola), Gentians of different kinds, 
beautiful Ranunculuses, and numerous species of Composites 
(Craspedia and Celmisia). 
_ Towards the south, and also in the Auckland and Campbell 
Islands, Heaths (genus Dracophyllum), Rubiaceous plants (Co- 
prosma), and species of Araliacee (Aralia and Panaxr) become 
more abundant, and Violets, Epilobiums, Euphrasias, and Gza- 
phalium are met with there, as well as in the Alpine zones. 
The Fauna of New Zealand is characteristic in the highest 
degree of an independent region, and is of avery peculiar nature. 
The insects constitute one of its most interesting features. Our 
first impulse is to contrast them with those of the lands most 
adjacent, and to compare the species with those of Tasmania and 
the southern portions of Australia, but the resemblances are few. 
We are, in fact, in a different world.. We do not meet with 
Australian or American species, as is the case with the plants, 
with the exception of three or four species of Lepidoptera. The 
differences also in the distribution of plants whose seeds can be 
carried a considerable distance, and of the animals indigenous 
to the soil, are very considerable, and it is necessary in our 
researches to take these into account. 
Some New Zealand insects are related to peculiar genera, 
which have a certain affinity with types represented either in 
Australia or in the islands of the Pacific* ; but the greater num- 
ber are allied to genera which have representatives in the nor- 
thern hemisphere. The insects and arachnids, on the whole, are 
such as occur in very temperate or even cold climates, and have 
in general the sombre aspect of central-European species. The 
most remarkable forms of the families Cerambycide and Scara- 
berde disappear towards the south; where, on the other hand, 
the weevils, and particularly the carniverous coleoptera (Cara- 
bide) predominate. The insects of Stewart Island, and particu- 
larly of the Auckland Islands, remind us in their general 
appearance of Scandinavian or even of Lapland species. 
New Zealand possesses no terrestrial mammals. The existence 
of an indigenous rat was formerly spoken of, but it does not 
occur now. Of bats there are only two species. On the other 
hand the birds are of the highest importance as one of the fea- 
tures of the fauna, and at no very remote period this importance 
was even greater than it is at the present day. 
Some species of rails and water-fowl are singularly character- 
istic. One of the most magnificent of these appears to be extinct 
_ (Notornis mantelli). The Gallide have only a single represen- 
tative, a quail (Coturnix Nove Zealandice ), whose early extinction 
appears probable. A very fine pigeon (Carpophaga Nove- 
Zealandic ),is characteristic of the region. The Fringillida, which 
*The genera Prionoplus, Coptamma, Navomorpha, Dorcadida, Xylotoles (fam. 
Cerambycide) ; Pyronota (fam. Scarabeide) ; Dinarida (fam, Locustide, ) 
