172 THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 



and being in its fresh state, at once ready for use, but we relished also 

 occasionally the boiled CJienopodium erosum, which is hardly inferior to 

 Spinach, although we could badly afford the time for collecting it. 



I add yet a few more botanical notes, although I cannot at this time 

 collect my remarks for a proper general account of the last results. 

 Casuarina equisetifolia was not seen before we reached the Great Nor- 

 thern Gulf. Grasses became less numerous than on the Victoria River 

 and on Start's Creek ; and, with a few exceptions, Mosses and Lichens 

 avoid obstinately the northern part of Australia. Fungi are likewise 

 scarce. Chenopodium auricomum surrounds generally the water-holes, 

 and is often consociated with Polygonum Cimninghami. Having added 

 again a few species of Crotalaria and Stylidium to the collection, I shall 

 have a fine display of these genera in my enumeration. The species of 

 Cissus are also manifold. Greevesia extends as far as the Dawson River 

 north. Brasenia has been seen only in leaves ; and Mr. Hill informs 

 me that he saw it in the Capaspe River, whence it consequently en- 

 riches my Victoria Flora with the Order of Cabombece. I know now 

 five Menispermous plants from Australia, one certainly a Cocculus, an- 

 other belonging to Stephania. To Protectees I added as new only an 

 arborescent Grevillea, with compressed filiform leaf-lobes, and an insig- 

 nificant species of Stenocarpus, also perhaps a Hakea. Grevillea gib- 

 bosa, G. striata, G. chrysodendron y G. ceratopfiylla, and Hakea lorea, 

 gain extratropical latitudes. A new Herpestis (H. peplidifolia) , and a 

 new Tournefortia, Bryonia, Parsonsia, and Marsdenia, were to me inte- 

 resting. 



Taking a retrospective glance over my operations, I do not think to 

 overrate the number of distinct plants, as collected within the intra- 

 tropical zone of Australia, in stating it 1500 species, of which I have 

 reason to believe 500 are at least not yet described, although some of 

 these beyond doubt have been seen by the venerable R. Brown and the 

 late Allan Cunningham. 



I beg to enclose in this letter a cheque of £25, praying you will be 

 kind enough to order, through your bookseller, such works as are most 

 essential for the further examination of the North Australian plants. I 

 should also be very much obliged to receive one of your simple micro- 

 scopes, as used and recommended by yourself. 



I have the two first fascicles of the Tasmanian Flora before me, and 

 am much delighted with their contents. You will allow me, by a hasty 



