THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST, 221: 
trated by fine photographs and arranged in a clear and most 
helpful style. 
“New Zealand Plants and their Story’ (1910) by L. 
Cockayne, Ph.D., F.L.S., is an exceedingly interesting book 
on the history and ecology of this varied flora. Jt is written 
in a popular style and well illustrated by excellent photo- 
graphs, such a book for N.S. Wales would be invaluable 
for the spread of botanical interest and knowledge. 
Dr. Cockayne roughly divides the flora of N. Zealand 
into Forests, Natural Shrubberies, Meadows, Swamps, and 
Sea-coast. The forests may consist of one kind of tree as the 
Beech or Kauri. A well-illustrated report on a Kauri forest 
has been written by Dr. Cockayne for the Government. The 
mixed forests are quite sub-tropical in chavacter with a 
wealth of foliage, luxuriant creepers, and a dense carpet of 
ferns and moss; good examples are seen on the west coast 
of the South Island, and in the centre of the North Island. - 
The Shrubberies at the edge of the forests generally con- 
sisi of many different species, Cabbage trees (Cordylinc), 
Veronicas, Coprosmas, Olearias, etc. And in both Islands . 
large tracts of poor country are covered with Manuka scrub 
(Leptospermum scoparium ). 
The Jfeadows are roughly divided into sub-alpine and 
lowland. The sub-alpine meadows are the ‘‘native gardens’’ 
of N.Z., being a mass of blossom in spring and summer with 
Celmiseas, Ranunculus, Ourisias, etc. The lowland meadows 
are mostly covered with the characteristic tussocks of grass, 
Poa caespitosa, etc., and form the natural pastures of N.Z. 
The Swamps are the home of the native Flax (Phormium 
tenax), which is of such economic value to N.Z. 
The Seacoast has its own peculiarities, which have been 
dealt with in a “‘Report on the Sand Dunes,’’ by Dr. 
Cockayne. 
CATERPILLAR OF CHHLEPTERYX COLLESI. * 
By Miss Bertha Fanning. 
A caterpillar of this moth, about 4 inches in length, was 
found descending the trunk of a Box Gum at Bolivia, N.S. 
Wales, on 7th December, 1912. On 23rd January following, 
another example was captured in a similar position, this one 
being 6 inches in length when crawling. After repeated fn- 
tile efforts to escape from the box in which it was confined, 
this specimen commenced spinning on 20th January, but 
being “disturbed, it commenced feeding again, eating Box 
leaves. Next afternoon it resumed spinning, and by If p.m. 
was completely surrounded with fine silken web. Next morn- 
ing it was still at work, and by the afternoon, had apparently 
completed its task. I onened the end of the cocoon and soon 
afterwards its occupant repaired the damage. The samc 
