gaster sp. As these worms come from Sumatra and the Malay Archipelago, he considers it likely that the tickets of localities got mixed up. Dichogaster sylvatica, Hebdier (?) Dr Benham states that the occurrence of this Australian species is incidentally referred to by Ude (1893), where he mentions that in a letter to him from Dr Rosa, the latter refers to a "variety from New Zealand." The specimens Ude was examining were from Australia. Family EUDRILIDÆ Eudrilus eugenia, Kinberg Mr W. W. Smith reports this species as occurring in Taranaki. Dr Benham, however, who is extremely doubtful of its occurrence, says: I cannot find any statement in any writer that this occurs in New Zealand, except in a list of New Zealand worms given by Beddard (1891), which includes "Eudrilus sp. (fide Benham)." I have no recollection or record of how I came to make that statement to him. He adds that it is not unlikely that the worm does occur here, as although it is a native of Africa, it has been found widely distributed, apparently by man. It was probably on Beddard's authority that the species was included in the list of introduced worms in the Index Faune NovaZealandiæ. Family GEOSCOLECIDÆ Pontoscolex corethrurus, Fr. Müller Recorded in the Index Fauna N.Z. in 1903. Dr Benham says: A native of Central America and the West Indies, it has been found in several of the Pacific Islands, such as Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Sandwich Islands, but I cannot find any definite statement by any writer that it has occurred here, though Michaelsen in his Monograph (1900) gives New Zealand as one of the localities, but gives no authority for its occurrence. Family LUMBRICIDÆ Eiseniella tetrædra, Savigny Mr W. W. Smith recorded this in 1892, under the name Allurus tetrædrus, as occurring in still pools in the Ashburton River. Commonly met with in cultivated land. Mr W. W. Smith states that it occurs in red masses in sluggish overgrown gutters in New Plymouth. Helodrilus (Eisenia) fœtidus (Sav.) (Allobophora fœtida). Originally recorded from Dunedin in 1876, by Captain Hutton, who described it as a new species, under the name Lumbricus annulatus. Dr Benham informs me that British worms of the Fam. Lumbricidæ are all commonly met with in cultivated land. This was reported by him in 1898 as common in Dunedin. Mr W. W. Smith reports it as occurring in great numbers in Taranaki, in heaps of rotten manure and putrid matter. It occurs in Sunday Island, Kermadec Group, "under leaves." Helodrilus (Eisenia) roseus, Sav. Recorded by Captain Hutton in the Index Fauna Nova-Zealandiæ in 1903. Mr W. W. Smith records it as common in Taranaki. Also found in the Chatham Islands. Helodrilus constrictus, Rosa. Dr Benham has no doubt this species occurs in New Zealand, although it has not been recorded. It is found in Campbell Island where he states: "its occurrence is clearly related to the habitation and cultivation of a patch of garden by the shepherds." It is also common everywhere in Sunday Island in forest on damp ground, and under nikau palm leaves and tree-fern fronds. Helodrilus (Allobophora) caliginosus (Sav.) In 1898 Dr Benham reported this as a very common worm about Dunedin. Specimens labelled Lumbricus levis by Captain Hutton, belonged to this species. It is also found in Chatham Island; and in Sunday Island in soil, and under nikau palm leaves. (A European species of Allobophora was found in 1916 by Mr D. Miller in flax swamps in the Manawatu district.) Helodrilus (Dendrobona) rubidus, Sav. This European worm is recorded in the Index in 1903. Mr Smith states that it is common in Taranaki. Otoclasium cyaneum, Sav. Another European species recorded in the Index in 1903; and also by Mr W. W. Smith from Taranaki. Lumbricus rubellus, Hoffmeister This was described as an indigenous species by Captain Hutton in 1876, under the name L. campestris. He recorded it as common in Dunedin and Wellington. In 1892 Mr W. W. Smith reported it as common in moist soil on swampy flats, and under moist cakes of cow-manure. Later he records it from Taranaki. It is no doubt a common form. Lumbricus castaneus, Sav. A European species recorded in the Index Fauna Nova-Zealandiæ in 1903. Mr W. W. Smith reports it from Taranaki, as occurring commonly in newly cleared forest. Lumbricus terrestris, Linn. Mr W. W. Smith recorded this species in 1892 as common everywhere." His specimens were identified by Mr Beddard and Mr J. J. Fletcher. He further states that it is common in Taranaki, where it attains to a large size in rich soils. There is evidently some confusion as to nomenclature, for Dr Benham informs me that he has never come across the species in New Zealand. HIRUDINEA Hirudo medicinalis, Linn. var. officinalis. Medicinal Leech The Otago Society introduced 200 leeches in 1867, and handed them over to the care of Mr F. D. Rich of Palmerston, who appears to have placed them in one of the backwaters of the Shag River, from whence they were probably washed out in the first big flood. The Canterbury Society introduced 12 in 1867, apparently through the agency of Mr A. M. Johnson, but there is no record of them. In 1868 Mr Howard of the Southland Society obtained some and placed them in the ponds at Wallacetown, but they were never seen again. In addition to these efforts, chemists imported them at all the main centres, but no further attempts seem to have been made to rear them in the country. Professor H. B. Kirk informs me that in Auckland, about 1875 leeches were found in a small pool at the foot of a clay bank on the west side of Grafton Road; and that boys used to catch them to sell to the chemists. Of late years, probably due to the use of other remedies, the employment of leeches for medicinal purposes has greatly diminished. The great war has also contributed to their disuse as their importation has practically stopped. In 1918 it was impossible to obtain leeches from any chemists in Dunedin. Part III NATURALISATION OF PLANTS Chapter XI DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERÆ Of the plants referred to in the following pages, over six hundred species have become more or less truly wild, i.e., they reproduce themselves by seed, and appear at the present time to be more or less permanent denizens of the country. The great majority of them have been brought in accidentally as seeds among other seeds, or in hay, straw, and other packing materials. Some of them have been introduced purposely as food or fodder plants, timber or ornamental trees and shrubs, or ornamental flowers. Some have been introduced for sentimental reasons, as very probably the briar rose was. In addition to these I have referred to several species of plants which have resisted all efforts-often long continued and numerous-to naturalise them. It is seldom possible to assign definite dates for the first introduction of plants into a foreign country, as can often be done with animals. In the majority of cases the most that I can do is to give the date of the first definite mention of their occurrence. Though isolated references to many introduced plants occur in various publications ranging from Banks's Journal to more recent times, the first list of such introductions appears to be in Sir J. D. Hooker's Handbook to the New Zealand Flora, which was written in 1864, though not published till 1867. This contains the names of 165 species of plants, and includes most of the commonest weeds and grass of cultivated land. A very large number of these were recorded by Mr Thos. Kirk from the Auckland provincial district, and were marked by an 'A' in Sir Joseph Hooker's list. Most of the cereal and the commoner cultivated grasses were introduced in early whaling days and by the first missionaries, that is between 1800 and 1820. Succeeding lists by Messrs Colenso, T. Kirk, Buchanan, Petrie, Cockayne and many other observers have added to our knowledge of the alien flora, and to its spread in these islands. The most |