[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 5th May, 1897.]

Plate XLI. (in part).

The small inconspicuous plant which is the subject of this paper was discovered by me in March, 1891, growing on limestone rocks near Castle Hill, West Coast Road, and again in March, 1893, near the pseudo-Maori paintings in the Weka Pass, on rocks of a similar character to those at Castle Hill. In the Weka Pass habitat it was extremely scarce, I having collected only a small patch with one capsule there; but it is more than probable that it will be found in other parts of this district, which is almost entirely of a limestone formation, and is very suitable for this plant's germination.

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This moss is interesting from its small size, being only 1/32 in. high, and has thus far been found only on calcareous rocks, growing along with a few other species of mosses, and is apparently wholly confined to such habitats. This is the first-recorded occurrence of the European genus Seligera (to which this new species belongs) in New Zealand. I have named the new species S. cardotii, after I. Cardot, the wellknown French muscologist.

The figures given are of 25 diameters, with the exception of the peristome, which is drawn to 50 diameters.

Seligera cardotii, sp. nov. Plate XLI., fig. 1.

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Plants perennial, growing in dense green patches 1/32 in. high. Leaves erecto-patent, subulate, acuminate, concave. Margins entire. Nerve excurrent. Lamina ending in one row of oblong cells towards the apex; scarcely altered when dry. Perichætial leaves similar to the stem leaves. Fruit terminal. Fruitstalk 1/16 in. long, pale. Capsule turbinate.