tree pealed, the old bark is hanging in loose shreds and flakes, giving the whole much the character of an assemblage of dead trees. Dr. R. Brown attributes the monotonous aspect and want of lustre in the vegetation to the equal existence of the cutaneous glands, or stomata, on both surfaces of the leaf. Nor when vegetation has ceased does the decay of the decomposing parts impart the usual fertility, for Captain Sturt conceives that the decaying leaves and timber, instead of adding richness to the soil, actually preclude minor vegetation, and that plants seem to shun the spot where a tree has fallen and gone to decay. In a climate so arid, the seasons will assert a powerful influence over the vegetation, and as soon as the beneficial effects of the rains are felt, there is much gaiety and liveliness in the numerous curious and handsome flowers; but on their disappearance the vegetation soon becomes parched and uninteresting. The wood of the trees possesses to an important extent the property of incombustibility, which is supposed to be due to the presence of aluminous earth.

The botanist must take a closer inspection, and here finds a novelty and pleasure the more general observer is deprived of. The various species of eucalyptus, nearly a hundred in number, compose the chief bulk of the forest; it has been estimated at four-fifths. They are frequently trees of enormous dimensions, except within the tropics, where they are also fewer. Exocarpus cupressiformis is the commonest tree of New Holland, without the tropics. Casuarina has many species, which have the local name of oaks. Leguminosæ are very abundant, the decandrous papilionaceous kinds prevail, as pultenæa, gompholobium, and dillwynia; and the aphyllous species of acacia are almost peculiar. Compositæ are liberally represented by the tribe corymbiferæ, but very sparingly by the two

others. Orchidaceae are very numerous as species, but not as individuals, always growing sparingly, and sometimes are extremely rare; those which are epiphytic cease at 34° S. latitude, and are more abundant in this region than the tropical. Palmæ extend to the same limit. Proteaceæ, myrtaceæ, and epacrideæ, abound in great numbers in peculiar genera, and intermingled with diosmeæ, goodenoviæ, myoporineæ, stylideæ, restiaceæ, tremandreæ, polygaleæ, and dilleniaceæ, impress very distinctive peculiarities. Cryptogamic plants are not so abundant as usual, owing to the dryness of the climate, the absence of large trees in many situations, and the deciduous bark. A tree-fern, dicksonia antarctica, extends through the region, even into Van Diemen's Land.

RELATIONS.-It is not a little singular, that identical species of European plants appear here in greater numbers than in South Africa, or other intervening regions. Dr. Brown's experience renders his observations valuable. "In comparing very generally the flora of the principal parallel, (between 33° and 35° S. latitude) of Terra Australis, with that of South Africa, we find several natural families characteristic of the Australian vegetation, as proteaceæ, diosmeæ, restiaceæ, polygaleæ, and also butteneriaceæ, if hermannia and mahernia be considered as part of this order, existing, and in nearly equal abundance, at the Cape of Good Hope; others are replaced by analogous families, as epacrideæ by ericeæ ; and some tribes, which form a considerable part of the Australian peculiarities, as dilleniaceæ, the leafless acacia, and eucalyptus, are entirely wanting in South Africa. On the other hand, several of the characteristic South African orders and extensive genera are nearly or entirely wanting in New Holland; thus, irideæ, mesembryanthemum, pelargonium, and oxalis, so abundant at the Cape of Good Hope, occur very sparingly in New Holland,

where the South African genera aloe, stapelia, cliffortia, penæa, and brunia, do not at all exist. Very few species are common to both countries, and of these, the only one which is at the same time peculiar to the southern hemisphere is osmunda barbara.”*

XXII. THE WEST AUSTRALIA REGION.

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EXTENT. The tropical features of New Holland are not fully developed on the north-west coast, which makes it necessary to extend the limits of this region in this direction. It will thus occupy the western portion of the continent from 1230 E. long., and become mingled with the New South Wales Region on the south coast in the neighbourhood of the Morrumbidgee, the interior of the continent being unknown.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS.-It is a feature in New Holland that the shores are invested by a broad belt of sandy soil, which gives them a very unprepossessing aspect to the stranger, and most of all to the settler. This is succeeded by grassy and thinly-wooded plains. Such is particularly the character of this region. At a little distance from the coast is a parallel, but irregular and broken, range of hills; and others detached are spread over the country. Basaltic rocks are not unfrequent, but that kind of sandstone known as ironstone, chiefly prevails, and forms the basis of the plains. Limestone is also not unusual. This surface generally is indifferently supplied with streams.

CLIMATE. Similar to that of New South Wales, but not so liable to extremes of temperature or to long droughts. At Perth the average temperature in Fe* Flinder's Voyages, Appendix, Vol. ii., p. 588.

bruary, at four P.M. was 840, in August 63o, and at ten a M. respectively, 81° and 60°. The mean of these hours throughout the year are 72° 1 and 69° 5. January, February, and March, are the months of greatest heat and aridity.

FLORA. The plants of this coast are almost entirely distinct from those of the east coast, but with King George's Sound they are strikingly identical. This peculiarity, however, is chiefly confined to species. The most charactertstic plants are species of casuarina, callitris, zamia, exocarpus, xanthorrhoea, and kingia australis, and nutysia floribunda. Eucalyptus has few species, and angophora is not known. (Brown in Journal Geographical Society.) The northern limit of xanthorrhoea is at 28° S. lat. The vegetable productions, then, of this region are sufficiently peculiar, for whilst it fully retains Australian features, its closer forms are its own.

RELATIONS.-South African ferns are more abundant than in any other portion of the continent, and this is conspicuous even in its proteaceæ. An European plant, arenaria marina, is met with.

XXIII. THE VAN DIEMEN'S LAND REGION.

EXTENT. The island so called, situated between 40° 42′ and 43° 43′ S. lat., and having an area of 17,192 square miles.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS.-Van Diemen's Land has fewer of those extremes so frequent in the neighbouring continent. The surface is occupied by fertile plains, occasionally swelling into hill and dale, and sometimes raised into ranges of inconsiderable elevation. Ben Lomond, to the

north-west, attains 4,200 feet, and Mount Wellington, near Hobart Town in the south, about 3,700 feet. In the vicinity of the rivers are large plains with good soil, and covered only with an herbaceous vegetation. The whole island is available, and rarely unfit for cultivation.

CLIMATE. With our European notions of climate, this would be considered cold for the latitude. The seasons are more regular, and the distribution of heat and moisture more equable, than in New South Wales. The smaller range of temperature is attributable to its insular position, and the humidity to the prevalence of southerly winds.

FLORA. There is a freshness and variety about the vegetation denied to New Holland. Though possessing many of its distinctive groups, the species are to a great extent limited; its epacrideæ, proteaceæ, and myoporineæ have even peculiar genera. Eucalyptus, though with fewer species, attains here its greatest developement. Among its trees are podocarpus asplenifolius, dacrydium taxifolium, exocarpus cupressiformis, carpodontos lucida, atherosperma moschata, zieria arborescens, tasmannia australis, t. fragrans, with species of gaultheria, pomaderris, and fagus. Cryptogamic plants are numerous, and some are identical with the European. Dicksonia antarctica, an arborescent fern, is met with.

RELATIONS. The connexions of the vegetation are widely extended. With the more temperate parts of Europe there are many genera in common, as stellaria, linum, viola, clematis, anemone, ranunculus, veronica, drosera, geranium, polygonum, cardamine, and nasturtium. With the South Africa region more particularly, by pelargonium, elichrysum, and oxalis; with North America, by gaultheria and aster; and with the Malaisia region, by podocarpus.