2 
celebrated British Navigator Cook, — the great Navigator of and for all 
Nations , on these shores with his illustrious band of devoted disciples 
of Natural Science ! For, although many a Botanist lias followed in 
their steps in New Zealand, yet none has equalled them,—whether the 
obstacles which impeded, or the fruits of their labours, or their devoted¬ 
ness to their calling, or the correctness of their views,—be duly con¬ 
sidered. 
2. But it is only during the nineteenth century that insular Botany 
has begun to receive that attention which it demands. It could not ad¬ 
vantageously have been studied much earlier; and even now it may 
justly be said to be in its infancy. Island Floras with their geology 
and climate, have to be more fully explored and made known; and 
species ha've to be more clearly defined; and the bounds of varieties 
ascertained, and the innate powers of a plant to evolve and change under 
fa\ orable natural conditions, have to be better understood, ere many 
important questions can be satisfactorily answered. Yet that day will 
come. E\ ery natural fact collected and recorded by the true lover of 
science is a step towards it. The Sphinx, Nature, is daily being evoked 
Iry her faithful sons ; and her answers, always extorted and .always cor¬ 
rect, (though not always interpreted correctly,) are being registered for 
future generations. To us it appears strange, that a species should be 
found here, (in New Zealand,) and its like only at the Antipodes; or, 
perhaps, at one of the two great Southern Capas of America, or Africa; 
or, which is tar more probable, only at some small islet,—a mere speck 
in the oceanic waste of waters,—as Juan Fernandez, or Easter Island,— 
the Falkland Islands, or Tristan d’ Acunha;—St. Paul’s, or Amsterdam; 
—Kerguelen’s Land, or Norfolk Island. Is it the very same identical 
species , or is it only similar ? If it is similar, has it become changed 
through climate situation and soil ? and, if so, how much more may it 
not change ? It the same, were there more than one original germ of 
its kind ? If only one, in which spot was it first 1 and how many ages 
rolled hy eie it was first found in the other? and how many more before 
it became common therein ? Or, wore the present widely dissevered 
localities then one Continent ? and, if so, how long a period did it re- 
piiie for the said one germ to reach its present outermost range—assum¬ 
ing such germ to have been originally placed in its centre ? If not from 
° l )U t many; were all, required for the various localities, created 
. & ° l? some e<u ^ er > some later? and, if so, which localities were 
ai ier, which the later supplied ? Does every island, or island 
