126 
Wo must not, however, consider the above list as a limit to 
the Flora of New Zealand. There still remained upon the three 
islands large districts to be explored. It is only on the North 
Island that the botanical collectors have penetrated farther into the 
interior, while upon the South Island the lofty heights of the New 
Zealand Alps, extending through the whole length of the island, 
had formerly been left wholly unexplored. It was not until within 
the last ydhrs that from Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin scien- 
tific expeditions were undertaken into those alpine regions; and to 
the untiring zeal of my botanical friends in Nelson, Dr. Monro , 
11 r . F. L. Trailers, and Captain Rough, and last but not least, to 
my friend Dr. J. Haast, science is indebted for numerous and highly 
interesting contributions to the knowledge of the Alpine Flora of 
New Zealand. 1 It is therefore to be expected that the Flora of 
New Zealand will be increased by a considerable number of species. 
Already Dr. Hooker was inclined to regard 4000 as the probable 
number of New Zealand plants, of which 1000 may be flowering 
plants. 2 
During my travels upon North Island in the Province of Auck- 
land , and upon South Island in the Province of Nelson, I also 
devoted myself to botanical collections as far as the main object 1 
had in view admitted. 1 limited myself, however, almost ex- 
clusively to cryptogamio plants and grasses. By the assistance 
of my travelling companions Dr. Haast and Captain Hay, and by 
considerable contributions of resident collectors, my collection in- 
creased to about 3000 specimens. 3 
What surprised me most was that it was among the ferns, 
1 See Appendix to Ch. VI. 
2 The proportion of the number of species for the several families of crypto- 
games is probably os follows: 130 ferns and lycopodiace®, 370 hepatic®, 500 musci, 
1000 fungi, 500 lichens, 500 algae. In Australia the number of phanerogamic plants 
is estimated at 8000, but upon the whole earth 80,000 to 150,000. 
3 It becomes my duty here to return my sincere thanks especially to Colonel 
lloullain in Otahuhu, Rev. Mr. Spencer in Taravera, Rev. Mr. Grace on Lake Taupo, 
Mr. William Young and Rev. Mr. Kinder in Auckland; also to Dr. Monro and Mr. 
W. T. L Travers in Nelson. 
