486 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Peaks, mentioned by Mr. Laurence, gradually ascends until 
I should suppose the summits of the peaks themselves to be 
upwards of 4,000 feet. I annex some short notes of my 
trip. 
On 16th Feb. 1843, I ascended the Western Mountains 
from Formosa, course south-west, and reached the summit 
in four hours’ smart walking and climbing. Formosa is 806 
feet above the sea, and the mountains where I ascended 
about 3,800 feet. At the base of the mountains the forest 
consisted of Eucalyptus, Casuarina quadrivalvis, Banksia aus- 
tralis, Acacia dealbata (n. 476) and Exocarpus cupressiformis ; 
but, as I ascended, the Casuarina first disappeared, then the 
Exocarpus, and finally, at about 1,500 feet, the Acacia de- 
albata and Banksia. The Banksia subsequently re-appeared 
on the summit, near Arthur’s Lakes, but none of the others. 
Above the sandstone rock, which underlies the trap, (of 
which the whole of the mountains are composed) at an alti- 
tude of 1,500 to 2,500 feet, I saw Bedfordia salicina, Eurybia 
glandulosa, the latter in flower in wet places, Ri 
scapigerus, Pultenea, No. 668, Lomatia tinctoria, in full 
flower, Lobelia simplicicaulis in flower, Stackhousia monogyna 
in fruit to the top of the mountains, Friesia peduncularis, Co- 
prosma hirtella and nitida, Geranium potentilloides and the ! 
sub-alpine plants, but very few were in flower at this per! 
of the year. Close to the top Rubus Gunnianus became abun- 
dant, and the Telopea truncata, Orites revoluta, and other 
shrubs, for the first time appeared. The only animal 
by us on our way up was a large wombat (Phascolomys)- : 
The prevailing winds on the top of the mountains are 
westerly, and the minute you reach the top an extensive 
country opens before you as far as the eye can reach. Un 
less you look backwards on what appears to be an extensive 
plain 30 to 40 miles wide and of indefinite length 3000 feet 
below you, you would suppose you were still in aflat country : 
and which in reality it is. 'The whole line of country HE : 
the Derwent at New Norfolk rises gradually and umpere T. 
tibly towards the north where the Rivers Ouse, Shannon ^. 
