in New Zealand. 
281 
deep swamp, a beautiful bird, apparently of the crane 
kind, rose gracefully from the mud among the reeds, 
and flew slowly around us; its under plumage was of a 
light-yellow or ochre colour, with a dark-brown upper 
plumage. None of my natives knew the bird, declaring 
they had never seen such an one before. Leaving the 
swamp, and entering on a plain, I discovered a new 
and elegant plant of the Orchidece family (probably 
belonging to the genus Microtis), possessing a lovely 
carmine-coloured perianth, with pubescent scape and 
spike. It was, however, very scarce, I only detecting 
it in one low spot by the side of the path. A pretty 
little Lobelia grew about here in great profusion. At 
sunset we reached Otawao, a mission station. This 
place being in the midst of an extensive plain of fern, 
affords little entertainment to the botanist. 
On the 26th I continued my journey towards the 
western coast. During the whole of this day I did not 
obtain a single plant, although we travelled over many 
a weary mile of desolate wild until some time after sun¬ 
set. At one part of our route this morning, the scenery 
was of the most enchanting description. Groves and 
clumps of that elegant pine, Dacrydium excelsum , were 
intersected with small placid lakes and level plains, 
appearing like a work of art. Late at night we threw 
ourselves down to rest among the fern, in a small and 
miserable village near the banks of the river Waipa. 
Rest, however, was quite out of the question, for 
our old and implacable tormentors, the musquitoes, 
were innumerable. The next morning, before sunrise, 
hungry, weary and sleepy, we willingly started from 
this wretched place, where our night instead of being 
one of rest, had literally been one of continual torment’ 
VOL. n. no. ix. 2 n 
