336 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
from the spot where the road crosses the gully. It does not ex- 
tend any distance up the valley, though the latter abounds in 
situations suitable for its growth. In this locality I have care- 
fully ascertained the range of the plant, and should it be found 
beyond the limit assigned above, can confidently assert that it is 
extending its range. The second locality is on the Kawarau 
River, at the first rocky bluff above the Victoria Bridge. It 
grows here both above and below the public road, principally on 
inaccessible rocky ledges. Ina few spots it was found growing 
on level ground among and underneath large stones; but in 
these situations sheep had eaten down such portions of the foliage 
as they could reach. The range appears to be as limited as at 
Firewood Creek, but I was unable to make a very careful ex- 
amination of the surrounding localities. In no other spot in 
Otago have I seen Stipa setacea, though I have looked for it in 
similar situations in all parts of the district. Mr. Goyen also 
informs me that he has carefully looked for it in the lake district, 
but to no purpose. The curious fact that the plant occurs 
chiefly, indeed almost exclusively, on inaccessible rocky ledges, 
is manifestly due to its being greedily eaten up by sheep. Of 
this I had clear evidence in the condition of the few patches 
that were partly protected by large stones and blocks of rock, 
every leaf that could be reached being closely cropped. It is 
just possible that its range may formerly have been greater, and 
that it has been almost exterminated by sheep ; but this is in 
the highest degree improbable, as I have examined hundreds of 
localities inaccesssible to sheep, and suitable for its growth, with- 
out finding a trace of it. Unless it should be reported from 
some other distant locality, remote from public highways, we 
may safely conclude that it is a casual immigrant from Australia 
or Tasmania. The long awn would readily cling to other objects, 
and so aid its dispersal. Many of the situations it now occupies 
could have been reached only by the wind wafting the seeds 
about. The seeds germinate readily ; but plants grown in my 
garden have not thriven well. It is evidently well fitted for the 
dry interior, and as it is greedily devoured by sheep, and grows 
in very arid situations, it doubtless possesses considerable eco- 
nomic value as a fodder grass. 
D.- PETRIE; WEA 
MEETINGS? OF -SOCTE TIBS: 
Le 
AUCKLAND INSTITUTE. 
October 23rd, 1882.—E. A. Mackechnie, Esq., President in the 
chair. 
New members—Dr. Edgelow and Rey. Mr. Macrae. 
Papers—(1) ‘On the occurrence of Platinum in Quartz Lodes 
at the Thames Goldfields,” by J. A. Pond. The author stated 
