18 
probably of Wealden age, and Lower Cretaceous animal-remains were also recorded 
by tlie Novara Expedition from the associated beds. On the other hand, Cox(l) 
apparently referred the plant-beds to the Jurassic, as part of the Mataura Series. 
Conclusions as to the Age of the Beds .—The flora from Waikato Heads is a small 
one, consisting of the following species 
Febn-like Plants— 
Tceniopteris arctica Heer. 
Cladophlebis australis (Morr.). 
C. Albertsi ? (Dunk.). 
C. sp. 
Microphyllopteris pectinata (ITect.). 
Genus Incertce Pedis -— 
Nageiopsis longifolia ? Font. 
Angiospeem,® (Dicotyledones)— 
Artocarpidium Arberi Laur. 
Phyllites sp. 
There can be no doubt, I think, as to the Neocomian age of this flora. The 
presence of Angiospermous remains is in itself sufficient to show that these beds are 
younger than the Jurassic. On the other hand, the scarcity of the Angiospermous 
fossils and the prevalence of Mesophytic types indicate that in all probability the 
Waikato Heads flora is not more recent in age than the Lower Cretaceous. 
This flora is particularly interesting as being perhaps one of the oldest, in a 
geological sense, of the known Neophytic floras. Angiosperms occur, but they are 
few and rare, and this group apparently was not dominant at this period in New 
Zealand. At any rate, at Waikato Heads it is the other types, all of which are 
Mesophytic, which are the dominant factors in the flora. Some of these, such as 
Cladophlebis australis and Microphyllopteris pectinata, occur also in the Jurassic of 
New Zealand. However, in the doubtful attributions to Cladophlebis Albertsi and 
Nageiopsis longifolia, we have fossils which are more characteristic of the Lower 
Cretaceous, and which are probably unknown from sediments of earlier age than the 
Wealden. Tceniopteris arctica is also a Cretaceous type. On the other hand, the 
absence of a large number of typically Wealden species, such as Onychiopsis Mantelli, 
which occurs in Europe and South Africa, is somewhat remarkable (see p. 25). I 
think, however, the presence of Angiospermous remains, in association with the Lower 
Cretaceous species above indicated, leaves no room for doubt that this scanty flora 
is of Lower Cretaceous age. It is to be particularly desired that further collections 
from this locality may be made before long, and that our knowledge of this very 
interesting early Cretaceous flora may be thereby extended. 
Age. —Neocomian. 
J. The Fossil Plants of Waiboa Gobge, Waimea County", Nelson. 
Locality .—The beds of Wairoa Gorge, Waimea County, Nelson, were described by 
McKay(2) in 1878. 
The Collection .—The New Zealand Geological Survey possesses a small collection 
from this locality, made by McKay. 
Conclusions as to the Age of the Beds .-—The specimens, with the single exception 
of the seed here figured under the name Carpolithus McKayi, are all too badly preserved 
for determination. Consequently nothing can be said as to the age of the beds, beyond 
the conclusion that they are no doubt Mesozoic. 
Age.- —Uncertain. 
(1) See Cox (1877), pp. 13, 18. 
(2) McKay (1878 3 ), pp. 119, 150. 
