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Rh general work on the plant-geography of New Zealand which it is understood that Dr. Cockayne has in preparation.

The very important researches made by Professor A. P. W. Thomas into the life-history of Phylloglossum, summarised in his "Preliminary Account of the Prothallium of Phylloglossum" (Proc. Roy. Soc. Vol. lxix., pp. 285–91) deserve special mention; as also his suggestive paper on "The Affinity of Tmesipteris with the Sphenophyllales" (Ibid., p. 343–50). The more detailed information promised with respect to both these communications will be eagerly looked forward to by New Zealand botanists.

During the last five years, Mr. W. Townson, of Westport, has diligently explored the greater portion of south-western Nelson, from the Mokihinui River southwards to the Grey River, repeatedly ascending all the higher peaks of the coast ranges, as Mount Frederic, Mount Rochfort, Mount William, Mount Faraday, Mount Buckland, &c. He has also visited the Lyell Mountains, and many of the high peaks flanking the Buller Valley, as far up the river as Mount Murchison and Mount Owen. Most of this large district had never been carefully examined for plants, and Mr. Townson has consequently reaped a rich harvest of novelties, most of which are described in this work. Among them are Aciphylla Townsoni, Celmisia dubia, Dracophyllum Townsoni and D. pubescens, Gentiana Townsoni, Veronica divergens and V. coarctata, and the interesting new genus of Orchideæ which I have named in his honour Townsonia. Mr. Townson's specimens, which have been collected with great care and judgment, have been mainly forwarded to me for the purposes of this work, and have proved of much service in determining many questions relating to the geographical range of the species.

Mr. H. J. Matthews, the present head of the Forestry Department, has collected in many parts of the colony, adding largely to our knowledge of the range of the species, and obtaining a few novelties, notably the beautiful Ranunculus Matthewsii, described in the appendix to this work. He has also done excellent service in forming an extensive collection of living plants in his garden at Dunedin, especially of the rarer alpine and subalpine species. If this collection is maintained and extended, it will prove invaluable for affording the means of leisurely study and comparison in difficult genera like Veronica and Celmisia, &c.

Mr. F. G. Gibbs, of Nelson, has done excellent work during the last ten years in the Nelson District, both on the Dun Mountain Range and on the chain of mountains extending northwards from Mount Arthur to Collingwood. Among his special discoveries are the curious Veronica Gibbsii, Gentiana vernicosa, Celmisia Gibbsii, &c.

The Marlborough District has been carefully and closely examined by Mr. J. H. Macmahon, who has made several finds of importance, especially in the neighbourhood of Mount Stokes. Celmisia