REVIEWS. 77 



the sea-shore of the colony is much less so ; our earliest acquaintance with 

 its algce is derived from small, but interesting collections made by some of 

 the early French expeditions, and by Dr. Eobert Brown, who accompanied 

 Flinders ; while the largest collection of algae (141 species) from this coast 

 was brought by Mr. L. Preiss, a nearly complete set of which were de- 

 posited by Senator Binder, of Hamburgh, in the Herbarium of Trinity Col- 

 lege, Dublin, while they were described by Dr. Sender. These, with other 

 similar advantages, Dr. H. had availed himself of previous to the com- 

 mencement of his own researches, which were carried on at King George's 

 Sound and Cape Biche, on the southern coast, and Freemantle, Garden 

 Island, and Rottnest Island, all in the immediate vicinity of Swan river, on 

 the western coast. The peculiar features of the coast at each of these 

 points are described with a happy brevity which we would gladly enrich 

 our pages with were sufficient space afforded. 



Some of the descriptions reminded us forcibly of the rock-pools in which 

 Mr. Gosse pursued his researches on the Devon coast ; while others pre- 

 sent a curious contrast to the scenery which a European eye is accustomed 

 to. Of these, the description of Rottnest Island, or rather its shore, inte- 

 rested us very much. This island, which is about seven miles long by 

 three wide, is situated about twelve miles W. by N. from Freemantle, and 

 is thus described 



" Almost the whole island is surrounded by limestone reefs, at greater or less dis- 

 tances from the shore. The limestone seems of very recent formation, and is of 

 similar character to that at Arthur's Head, and in other localities near Freemantle, 

 already described by several geologists. It is remarkable for very fantastic and di- 

 versified forms. The reefs are generally flat- topped, but the surface is very rough, 

 either thickly bristling with sharp points, a few inches high, or broken into mina- 

 ture mountains and valleys strongly recalling to mind the raised map of Switzer- 

 land. Other reefs are ridged ; the ridges parallel to each other, but variously di- 

 rected towards the shore. The outer face of the bordering reef is generally very 

 steep, often perpendicular or overhanging ; and frequently it goes down, like a 

 quay-wall, into two or three fathoms of water. At the N.E. angle of the island, a 

 very remarkable quay-like reef, called the 'Natural Jetty,' runs out many hundred 

 yards into the sea. Its surface is laid bare, at low water, of spring tides, which 

 rise and fall from two to three and a half feet. Many of the detached reefs are 

 shaped like round tables, or mushrooms, being fixed on a slender central stalk, often 

 only a few feet in diameter ; the horizontal ledge, or table, spreading out to many 

 yards on all sides. Sometimes two or three of these tables are joined together by 

 narrow stone bridges ; and sometimes large holes, through which you can look 

 down two or three fathoms into the clearest water, are found in the table ; and the 

 swells rise through them, and flow over. I often wondered how these filigree 

 reefs could so long withstand the beating of the waves in winter storms, Almost 

 all of them offer good harvests to the algologist ; and beautiful pictures to any 

 one who can appreciate the loveliness of living vegetable forms. The surfaces 

 of most are well clothed with the smaller Rhodospermece (Laurencice, Hypnece, 

 Acanthophora, Sfc,\ and thickly studded with a Caulerpa (C. Icetevirens, Mont?} 

 with short stems, clothed with brilliant club-shaped leaves, resembling minature 

 clusters of grapes. At every few yards, deep, basin -like hollows, of greater or 

 lesser size, break the surface of the reef, and afford well- sheltered nooks for a 



