Swainson was, I believe, the first naturalist to describe a specimen from Mexico.

" Flowers of this kind are very numerous, and under a variety of forms prevail largely in our own and other countries, an interesting collection of which have been collected by Mr. Swainson in his interesting little volume on "Weather Folk-lore," in which he has given the parallels in foreign countries.

5. See Swainson's "Weather-lore," p. 257.

Edward Swainson, Esq., whose works are in the district, presented it.

Hence the number of the specimens warranted their publication in a separate form, under the able superintendance of Dr. Richardson, surgeon and naturalist to the expedition, aided by Mr. Swainson.

By W. Swainson, Esq, F.R.S. and John Richardson, Esq., M.D. F.R.S., &c. 4to.

He is, therefore, not a mere book naturalist, but he has studied the habits and zoological details of the living animals; Mr. Swainson having assisted the Doctor in the systematic arrangement and production of the plates.

* THE ARCTIC, OR WHITE-HORNED OWL, Strix (Bubo) Arctica, SWAINSON.

From Mr. Swainson's minute description we learn that the colour of the bill and claws is blueish black.

THE COCK OF THE PLAINS, Tetrao, (Centrocercus,) Urophasianus, SWAINSON.

The length of this bird Mr. Swainson thinks to have been 25 inches.

The CLAW is that of the PILEATED WOODPECKER, (Picus Dryotomus) Pileatus, SWAINSON, which has much less power than the claw of the typical Woodpecker; the anterior toe (i.e. middle toe,) being longer and stronger than the posteriora structure the very reverse of that which characterizes the typical species.

M. Swainson, considering this name as very objectionable, has proposed Labristoma instead.

The Acting-Governor was, however, held back by Bishop Selwyn, Chief Justice Martin, and Swainson the Attorney-General, a trio of whom more will be said hereafter.

Mr. William Swainson, his Attorney-General, was an English lawyer of striking abilities of more than one kind.

But a more commanding figure than either Martin or Swainson was George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of the Colony.

Attorney-General Swainson.

It was born and died amid open recrimination and secret wire-pulling, throughout which Mr. Attorney Swainson, who had got himself made Speaker of the Upper House while retaining his post as the Governor's legal adviser, and Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, who was ostensibly nothing but a private member of the Lower House, pulled the strings behind the scenes.

The Colonial Office snubbed Colonel Wynyard and Mr. Swainson, and informed them that responsible government could be initiated without an Act of Parliament.

As narratives of the first twenty years of the Colony two books stand out from among many: Thomson's "Story of New Zealand," and AttorneyGeneral Swainson's "New Zealand and its Colonization."

But Swainson's is the fairest and most careful account of the time from the official, philo-Maori and anti-Company side, and may be taken as a safe antidote to Jerningham Wakefield, Sir W.T. Power, Hursthouse, and others.

A comparison with Rusden, when the two are on the same ground, shows Swainson to be the better writer all round.

Swainson takes up his parable against the Waitara purchase.

Swainson as Speaker, 254.

Swainson's book, 418. ordinances, 224. Tainui stories, 38.