Linncjcan :^,oc}eti/. 195 



Two palms, Coryijha auMralis and Seaforthia elcyans, and tlie won- 

 der of Australian forests, Doryanthes excelsa, adorn these localities. 



3rd. The Argyle vegetation characterizes those park-like spots, with 

 their stately Eucalyptus trees growing at some distan<;e from each 

 other, with very little underwood, which have attracted the notice of 

 travellers, from Tasman down to those of our times. The geological 

 features of this region consist of various rocks, the sandstone of the 

 coal formation excepted, which last never yields a good soil. The 

 genera of this class of vegetation are various grasses, Thlaspi, Csra- 

 stium, Thymus, Scandix, Hydrocotyle, JDianella, Exarrhena, Silene, 

 Hypericum, &c., many of them European forms, and soft juicy 

 plants. Where this vegetation occurs are to be found some of the 

 most advantageous parts of the colony for the purposes of grazing. 



4th. The Menero vegetation comprehends the Flora of those exten- 

 sive downs which extend on the east side of the Alps to the extent 

 of more than a hundred miles, and which are capable of maintaining 

 vast numbers of sheep and other cattle. These downs present a dif- 

 ferent aspect in different seasons, being in some covered with the 

 most luxuriant herbage, which at other times is parched and dried 

 up. Many genera of the preceding class occur in these localities, 

 besides Ly thrum, Epilobium, Potentilla, Leuzea, Rumcx, and other 

 European genera. The author regrets that the season was too far 

 advanced to examine the Graminea and Cyperacea, which abound 

 in this region. 



5th. Alpine vegetation. — This was traced by the author to the 

 summit of Mount William the Fourth.* These mountains being very 

 extensive, will yield a great harvest to future travellers. The few 

 plants collected by the author in this first investigation were two 

 species of Gentiana, Mniarum, Sphagnum, Dracophyllum, Azeroe, Co" 

 prosma, Fodolepis, some of the latter genus being three feet high. 



February 19. — The Lord Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. 



Read, '* Extracts from Letters addressed to Dr. Royle, V.P.R. & 

 F.L.S., Prof. Mat. Med., King's College." By Dr. Falconer, Super- 

 intendent of the Hon. E. L C.'s Garden, Saharunpore. 



Under date of January 24, 1837, from Saharunpore, Dr. Falconer 

 gives a general report of the state of the garden. 



" The Bixa Orellana," he remarks, " now flow^ers and fruits freely, 



* According to a recent calculation, made from the degree of temperature 

 at which water boiled on the top of this mountain (viz. 196°), it possesses an 

 absolute height of hOOO feet, being by far the highest point reached hitherto 

 by anv traveller in Austialia. 



