32 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



country. Bat, as regards the ferrets, weasels, &c, they will thrive, and 

 will continue to thrive until the extermination of our ground-birds, 

 which has now begun, is fully accomplished. That I am not prophecy - 

 ing evil without good ground I may prove by the following : — In all 

 my explorations on the coast, the certainty of getting a good supply of 

 birds made it possible to keep the provision swags, which men had to 

 carry, within reasonable weights and dimensions. On this last trip of 

 mine rather more than the usual amount of provisions was taken, but 

 in spite of this precaution, the party had to bo put on short rations for 

 the last three days — namely, one scone per man per clay. The farther 

 inland the more plentiful the birds, used to be the rule; but that is 

 reversed now. At the head of the Okuru and the Burke some nights 

 passed during which we never heard the screech of the kakapo or the 

 shrill whistle of the kiwi ; and, as for the blue-ducks, we saw only three 

 during the whole time we were out. In former times while camping 

 near the head-waters of any of the rivers, the fighting of the kakapos 

 amongst themselves, and the constant call of the other birds around the 

 tent and camp-fire during the night, often kept people from sleeping. 

 This has all changed now ; at least in the southern part of the West 

 Coast absolute stillness reigns at night, and there is nothing to keep a 

 traveller from sleeping, except owing to the absence of birds — an empty 

 stomach." 



"Select Extra-Tropical Plants," by Baron Ferd. Yon Mueller. 

 — This valuable work has now reached its seventh edition, and is greatly 

 enlarged in bulk and usefulness. Every species of useful plant suitable 

 for cultivation within the temperate and warm temperate zones is 

 treated of, its general character, uses, and native habitat being given. 

 At the end are given tables, indicating all the genera of these plants 

 according to their uses, thus greatly facilitating reference. Other 

 useful tables give (a) the names of the plants according to their 

 geographical distribution, (b) important cultural plants arranged 

 according to the length of time they require to yield a return, 

 (c) those adapted for a frost! ess climate, (d) those adapted even for 

 very cold regions, and (e) those fitted even for the driest climate. A 

 very full index to vernacular names concludes this useful volume. 

 Editions of this useful work have already appeared in India and the 

 United States. It has also passed through a German edition by Dr. 

 Goeze, and a French recast by Professor Naudin. It is also appearing 

 now in a Spanish translation by Professor Kurtz. These facts show 

 how much the work is in demand among all the colonising peoples of 

 the world. 



Forthcoming Botanical Works. — All botanists will be rejoiced 

 to hear that " The Student's Handbook of the New Zealand Flora," by 

 Mr. Thos. Kirk, F.L.S., of Wellington, is now in the printer's hands, 

 though it will probably not be completed for some time yet. Judging 

 by the specimen pages received, the work will be of a very handy size 

 and excellently printed, while the author's name is a guarantee of its 

 botanical value. 



Another work, which will very shortly be published, is an ' : Intro- 

 duction to Structural Botany, for use in New Zealand Schools," by Mr. 

 Geo. M. Thomson, F.L.S. It will be a small volume of about 150 pages 

 illustrated by over 200 figures, drawn on wood by the author. 



Both works are being printed at the Government Printing Office. 



