272 
Memoranda of an Excursion 
of our negro-head. Here, on the very edge of the 
large boiling spring, several plants flourished in perfec¬ 
tion; particularly Pteris Brunoniana , JSndL; and two 
small plants which I considered new. One of these, a 
species of Carex; the other a Composite, probably a spe¬ 
cies of Myriogyne, differing, however, from M. minuta, 
Less, (the already-described New Zealand species), the 
leaves of which are sessile and much smaller. I re¬ 
gretted that I had not a thermometer, with which I 
might ascertain the temperature of the water. Fine 
specimens of crystallized sulphur abound in this neigh¬ 
bourhood, but, from their delicate structure and extreme 
fragility, it is rather a difficult matter to convey them 
to any distance, and at the same time to preserve their 
beauty. From the barren hills in this locality I gained 
an elegant Lycopodium, and a new species of Gaul- 
tlieria, a branching shrub, 4-7 feet in height. Some 
natives informing me of a new and peculiar tree which 
grew on Mokoia, the island in the midst of the lake, I 
crossed over to it and sought for the same, but gained 
nothing new. From subsequent information I was led 
to conclude, that the tree which I had been in quest 
of, was no other than the Vitex littoralis, one of which 
species, according to the natives, grew on the island, 
but not another in the whole district. I observed the 
natives continually masticating a kind of resinous gum, 
which was insoluable in water, and which did not de¬ 
crease through the process of repeated chewing; this, 
they informed me, they obtained from the Pukapuka 
(Br achy glottis repanda, A. Cunn.), assuring me that the 
swallowing of the substance caused death. They pointed 
me out the shrub, which, although slightly differing in 
general appearance, bore strong resemblance to Cun- 
