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BOTANICAL INFORMATION 



procure me several facilities for my work, etc. ; and I have the free use 

 of a Loat for dredging, and of the Governuieut House at Eottenest 

 Island, where I move over on Monday, and where T mean to spend 

 three or four weeks. Unfortunately I wrote to Mr. Sanfovd from the 

 Sound, after I had given up all thoughts of coming, to re-ship my 

 paper, etc., to Melbourne by the first ship; and it so happened that a 

 ship offered three daijs before my arrival, and so the boxes and bales 

 went off, for better for worse. I am obliged, therefore, to use any paper 

 I can procure, and, by begging and buying, get along, Mr. Roe gave 

 me some capital brown, and I have got cartridge from the Convict 

 Establishment. Now I am here I find plenty to do on the shore, and 

 mean to stay till July, returning to King George's Sound by the 1st of 

 August, staying a month there, and leaving by the Peninsular and 

 Oriental Steamer on the 1st of September, for Melbourne. Perhaps 

 you could write to me in the despatch-bag to Melbourne, through IVIr. 

 Higgins, and the Governor will forward it where I may then be. I 

 have been twice to Garden Island (a real marine garden for Algae), and 

 on my last excursion discovered two new species of Martensia (Hemi- 

 trema, R. Br.), which are so pretty that I enclose them. Do not lose 

 them, as I have as yet very few specimens of either, and may not find 

 them again. My M. Brimonis may be identical with the Natal species, 

 which ought to be compared with it ; the M, denUciilata is easily known 

 by its eroso-denticulate margin, as well as substance and habit. I have 

 still another (3/. australis, MS.), found at the Sound, but have not 

 brought any specimen with me. At this rate of going, it may be a large 

 genus before I get home. I have not yet found Claudea, or any new 

 nehcorh genus j but my collection is daily growing in interest, from 

 new species, and from finding many old ones in a better state of fruit 

 than they have hitherto been known in. I am surprised, however, to 

 find some Antarctic species (as Belesseria crass inerv la), and several 

 which we had previously only from Melbourne or Van Diemen's Land ; 

 so that I expect I shall find the Neixis of this continent much less di- 

 versified than I had expected. As yet I have only about two hundred 

 species, and of several only a few specimens, or a solitary one. 



Mr. Drummond paid me a visit when I was at Perth, and had much 

 to speak of. He is looking very well, — a great-boned, brawny Scot, 

 with snow-white hair and beard, — and as active as ever, and as enthu- 

 siastic in his pursuit as possible. He has several new genera, he tells 



