Page images
PDF
EPUB

Lolium temulentum, Linn. Darnel

First recorded in 1864 in Hooker's list. In the Manual (1906) it is reported as not uncommon in cultivated fields and waste places in both islands.

Lepturus incurvatus, Trin.

[ocr errors]

First recorded by Kirk as occurring on the sands at Waitemata, in 1864 in Hooker's list. He also reports it as common on shingly beaches" in many parts round Wellington Harbour, in 1877. Cheeseman in 1882 stated that it was common in brackish-water swamps in the Auckland district. It had apparently not greatly extended its range in 1906. It is a grass specially of salt meadows.

Agropyrum repens, Beauv. Couch-grass; Twitch

Probably introduced long previously, but first recorded by W. W. Smith from Ashburton in 1903, as Triticum repens. In the Manual (1906) reported as not uncommon in fields and waste places in both islands. This grass, considered one of the worst weeds of arable land in Britain, has fortunately shown very little tendency to become a pest in New Zealand. This is somewhat remarkable, as the plant in ordinary soil puts out underground stems from 25 to 30 cm. (10-12 inches) in length.

Agropyrum pectinatum, Beauv.

First recorded from Central Otago by Petrie in 1899. Later from Hawke's Bay by A. Hamilton.

[ocr errors]

Brachypodium sylvaticum, R. and S.

Recorded by W. W. Smith from Ashburton County in 1903.

Triticum sativum, Lam. Wheat

Apparently wheat was first introduced by Crozet in 1772, who formed a garden on Moutouaru Island, in which he sowed, among other seeds, grains of wheat from the Cape of Good Hope. He writes: everything succeeded admirably, and the wheat especially grew with surpassing vigour." In the following year Captain Cook sowed wheat in the gardens made by him on Long Island in Queen Charlotte Sound. It did not, however, become established. In 1793 Governor King gave the natives of the Bay of Islands a bushel of wheat. It is doubtful, however, whether they succeeded in retaining it in cultivation, for Marsden re-introduced it in the same locality in 1810, and sent some more over from Sydney in 1911. Nicholas, who accompanied Marsden to the Bay of Islands on his first visit there, saw it growing well in native cultivations in January, 1815. Bidwill, when

travelling on the shores of Lake Taupo in 1839, "found a fine plant of wheat. The natives could not say how it got there, and Mr Chapman, the Missionary, was the only European who had ever been there, and that only three weeks before."

At the present time wheat only occurs wild as a very occasional escape from cultivation.

Triticum caninum, Huds.

Recorded by W. W. Smith in 1903 as occurring in Ashburton County; not found since.

Triticum junceum, Linn.

Recorded by W. W. Smith in 1903 from Ashburton County; not gathered since.

Elymus arenarius, Linn. Sea-lyme Grass

The Agricultural Department reports this as well distributed in New Zealand, but it is everywhere a planted species, which has been utilised in several parts for binding sand-dunes. It does not appear to have spread anywhere.

Hordeum vulgare, Linn. Barley

Probably included in the corn sown by Captain Cook in 1773 in the gardens in Queen Charlotte Sound. Only occurs as an escape from cultivation, and nowhere grows as a wild species.

Nicholas, who accompanied Marsden to New Zealand in 1814-15, speaks of a plantation of Siberian barley at the Bay of Islands in February of the latter year.

A correspondent of the Farmers' Union Advocate gives the following interesting extract from the diary of the late Rev. J. G. Butler:

On the morning of Wednesday, May 3, 1820, the agricultural plough was for the first time put into the land of New Zealand at Kiddikiddi (Kerikeri), and I felt much pleasure in holding it after a team of six bullocks, brought down by the "Dromedary." I trust that this auspicious day will be remembered with gratitude and its anniversary kept by ages yet unborn. Every heart seemed to rejoice on the occasion. I hope it will still continue to increase, and in a short time produce an abundant harvest.

The results of the ploughing were reaped from 12th December, 1820, to 8th January, 1821, regarding which Mr Butler wrote: "While I am writing down these lines, I have seven natives in sight reaping down a field of barley on land which 12 months ago was overrun with ferns." The Rev. Mr Butler left New Zealand in 1823 and returned about 1840, and settled at Petone, where he died.

Hordeum murinum, Linn. Barley Grass; Way-bent

First recorded from Auckland Province in 1869 by Kirk. It is a most abundant weed now (1917) in waste ground, especially near the sea. The seed gets into the wool of sheep, and frequently causes a certain amount of deterioration.

Hordeum maritimum, With. Squirrel-tail Grass

First recorded in 1871 from Canterbury by Armstrong. In the Manual (1906) it is reported from Akaroa, on the authority of Kirk1.

Order FILICES

Tribe POLYPODIEÆ

Pteris cretica, Linn.

This species was collected near Tapuacharuru, Taupo, and described by Colenso as P. lomarioides, Col., in 1880. A specimen was also found in Oxford Forest, Canterbury, by Mr Vincent Pyke in 1883, and sent down to the author for identification. This was gathered in the bush, away from the immediate vicinity of settlement, and Mr Pyke was certain that it was indigenous.

Pteris longifolia, Linn.

Stated by Buchanan (1882) to have been gathered at Tarawera, between Napier and Taupo, by Mr Lascelles of Napier. Buchanan says it was collected "under circumstances which preclude the possibility of its having been introduced." No one has yet recorded how far fern-spores have travelled on air-currents.

Tribe OSMUNDEÆ

Osmunda regalis, Linn. Fern-royal

This fern was found by Dr Curll at one spot in Rangitikei, from whence it disappeared, and was rediscovered at the same place by H. C. Field of Wanganui in 1885. It does not seem to have spread. The introduction of all three species of foreign ferns was probably quite accidental in each case.

Order LYCOPODIACEÆ

Selaginella denticulata, Link.

Cheeseman (1919) reports, on the authority of T. H. Trevor, that this species has been known for many years as a garden escape at Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, and has lately appeared in great abundance on the banks of several swampy creeks in the neighbourhood. B. C. Aston also reports it as not uncommon in several localities near Wellington. 1 In 1871 Armstrong recorded Hordeum distichum, from Canterbury. The species has not been observed since.

Part IV

Chapter XIII

INTERACTION OF ENDEMIC AND
INTRODUCED FAUNAS

THE enormous impetus given to Natural History by the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859 led many of those who were interested in biological studies in New Zealand to give much consideration to the relation of his theoretical views to the problems which faced them here. I was among those who came early under the spell. I read with care and avidity every work of Darwin's which bore on the subject of evolution and natural selection, and followed this up by a careful study of contemporary writers, Hooker, Lyell, Huxley, Wallace, Asa Grey, Haeckel and numerous others. As a lad I had some slight knowledge of the British fauna, and had begun to collect the flora under my old teacher of botany, Professor John Hutton Balfour of Edinburgh. I made extensive botanical and zoological collections in many parts of New Zealand from the Bay of Islands to the south of Stewart Island between 1868 and 1892, collaborating first with that prince of field naturalists, Captain F. W. Hutton, and later with Mr D. Petrie and Professor C. Chilton. At the end of 1882, an injury which effectually lamed me, prevented the prosecution of further field work, but I continued to collect and work on the invertebrate fauna, especially the Crustacea.

The conviction early grew upon me that here in New Zealand was a field in which the accuracy of Darwin's views in certain directions could be put to the test. The way in which certain species of introduced animals and plants seemed to "run away," as it were, from their recognised specific characters, led to the expectation that new forms would spring up in this country under the altered conditions, and that we should here observe the "origin" of new species. I certainly was not alone in this half-expectation. It was somewhat generally, though vaguely, held. Examples were apparently numerous. Rabbits increased at an appalling rate, and appeared to be developing many coloured breeds; small birds-especially common sparrows, greenfinches, skylarks, etc.-multiplied prodigiously, and we were

« PreviousContinue »