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will be agreeably contrasted with New Zealand forest vegetation; - but,
if he should have come hither direct from the sunny skies and islands
of the tropics, with their graceful perennial light ever-green dress, then
the New Zealand hills and dells may appear very sombre, and will
suffer from recollection and comparison. Again: if he should happen
to anchor in one of the many rivers or harbours north of the Thames, -
while the ubiquitous brown fern (Pteris esulenta) is everywhere, -
he will be struck with the appearance of the White Mangrove (Avicennia
officinalis) growing within the range of the tide, and the romantic
Pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) pendant from the cliffs or perched
on some rocky headland; and perhaps in some forest not far off the
stately Kauri Pine (Dammara australis) uprearing its lofty head far
above all its compeers; but these vegetable characteristics will not be
found south of the East Cape.

4. The general appearance of New Zealand vegetation (North Island)
is not on the whole of a pleasing character. Brown fern-clad plains,
and low hills sometimes of tolerably regular outline but oftener of all
rugged shapes and sizes; and dark-green almost gloomy looking forests,
- here extending for many miles, and there in belts of patches, - yield
not an agreeable prospect. But, in summer, - when the sombre fern is
bedecked with the neat flowering mantle of its neighbour, the myriad
blooming Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), diffusing also its aromatic
smell with every breeze; and the smaller and much more variegated
woods, found nestling in deep glens and fringing the watercourses, ex-
-hibit their "ever-changing ever new" forms and summer colours in
ever-varying lights and shades, - then the New Zealand vegetation ap-
pears greatly to advantage.

5. Not many of our larger timber trees are either handsome or grace-
ful in foliage and branching when full grown, athough several are both
while young, - (e.g. the drooping-branched Rimu, (Dacrydium cupres-
sinum,) the graceful fern-plumaged Kawaka, (Thuja Doniana,*) the
handsome celery-leaved Tanekaha, (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) the
elegant poplar-like Rewarewa (Knightia exclsa) the soft full-foliaged
Titoki, (Alectryon excelsum) the ornate Tawhai, (Fagus Menziesii)
and, in high alluvia soils, the spreading Tawhai-rau-nui (Fagus fusca).
Yet, what may be absent of beauty and grace is more than supplied in
size and utility. The huge bulk of some of the vegetable giants of the
New Zealand forests, and the clean symmetrical trunks of others
* Libocedrus Doniana, Hook: f. - ED.