256 Memoranda of an Excursion 
couple of specimens of each species, and these, too, 
hastily gathered and put up dripping wet, to the very 
great astonishment of my natives. Proceeding on, I 
found, in more open situations, a pretty little Irideal 
plant (perhaps IAbertia micrantha , A. Cunn ., or a n. sp.) 
growing most profusely, reminding me, in the distance, 
of the “ daisied meads” of my father’s land. Ascending 
still higher, in pelting rain, I discovered a handsome 
species of Viola, bearing a large white flower with 
orange-coloured throat, and very fragrant smell. I 
hastily removed this interesting plant from its mossy 
bed to the bosom of my cloak, now nearly as wet as 
the bank where it originally grew. Growing with it I 
found a small Epilobium with axillary inflorescence. I 
had fondly hoped to have fallen in with a specimen of 
that rare, and hitherto little known, bird, Neomorpha 
crassirostris (the lluia of the natives), in this locality; 
having understood that they were found in these parts. 
The name, too, of the mountain, Huiarau (i. e. hundred 
Huias), had not a little increased my expectations. I 
was, however, disappointed; the incessant rain prevent- 
ing my seeing anything but what lay just before me. 
This bird only inhabits the mountainous districts of the 
southern part of this island. It is said to be small, 
black, and slender, its tail feathers being long and 
broad, tipped with white. These feathers are much 
valued by the natives, as ornaments for their hair. I 
obtained from Te Kaniatakirau, chief of Uawa, a lluia 
feather from his hair, on leaving that place. In this 
locality I secured specimens of several plants of the 
Coprosma genus, all small shrubs from three to five feet 
in height. A small divaricate shrub without fruit, but 
apparently a species of Myrsine; and a fine epiphytical 
