250 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



One or two marshy spots occur in the lower portion of Taheiti; and 

 were found filled with Acrosticlium aureum, growing in large tufts; 

 and a more humble fern profusely intermingled, a Polyhotrya? resem- 

 bling our Northern species of Thelypteris. 



The Interior or mountain forest. All around the island, the 

 mountain-ridges presented a gentle and easy ascent; but on attempting 

 to proceed inland, the crest, after a few miles, commenced narrowing, 

 until at last the traveller finds himself on the top of a tbin partition- 

 wall of rock, hundreds of feet high. I was of a party that persevered 

 for hours, on the ridge leading back from Matavai ; but, at the limit 

 of our hazardous excursion, we were yet many miles from the central 

 mountain. Another of these lofty partition-walls, thin to the base, 

 w\'is ol)served on looking upwards to have its summit deflected at one 

 point and curled over. 



In crossing the island, by the way of Pupino Valley and Lake 

 Waihiria, the wildness of mountain scenery is, perhaps, unrivalled. 

 From a practice, by the natives, of disseminating seeds and plants 

 through the forest, the fehi-banana having a conspicuous crown of 

 leaves, has become identified with the scenery of the Interior; pro- 

 jecting from places hopelessly inacessible, from the face of dripping 

 precipices ; some so lofty, that cascades after falling a certain distance, 

 are cut off in mid-air, and dissipated in spray. 



During the four days we spent in the Interior, the rain was almost 

 continual ; the climate being decidedly more humid than around the 

 coast, and also comparatively cool. The following observations of the 

 temperature, were taken on my two mountain excursions : 



Sept. 14th; in Pupino Valley, at our first eDcampment, the elevation estimated 

 at three hundred feet ; 5f a.m., rainy, .... 



Sept. 14th; in Pupino Valley, elevation estimated at 1000 feet; Hi A.M., . 



Sept. 14th; in Pupino Valley, West branch of, at our second encampment, 

 the elevation estimated at 2500 feet; 4J P.M., 



Sept. 15th; at the same encampment ; 6i A.M., .... 



Sept. 22d ; on the top of the ridge leading back from Matavai, the elevation 

 estimated at 4500 feet; 2 P.M., cloudy; on the ground, 



Sept. 22d ; at the same place a few minutes afterwards, the thermometer 

 suspended in the air, ....... 



Sept. 28d; at our encampment on the Western flank of the same ridge, the 

 elevation estimated at 2500 feet; 5 A.M., . , . . 



Sept. 23d; at the same encampment, a few minutes afterwards; the thermo- 

 meter placed in the water of the stream, near its source. 



G5° Fahr. 

 70° Fahr. 



63° Fahr. 

 64° Fahr. 



61° Fahr. 



61° Fahr. 



62° Fahr. 



63° Fahr. 



