206 STATURAL HISTORY OP MELBOUKKE. 



fires have entirely destroyed every vestige of vegetation. It behoves me then 

 to extend the range of ray walks^ and carefully to note everything of interest^ 

 lest it too may, ere long, share the fate of its congeners. 



I may mention that I have an entomological friend here, Mr. F. C. 

 Christy, cousin of the lamented W. Christy, so well known to all botanists, 

 who accompanies me in my excursions, and much very agreeable information 

 I have had the pleasure to receive from him. 



Not to take up too much of your valuable space, I shall merely give 

 you a few extracts from my note book, with some brief remarks on the 

 vegetation of the Colony; at the same time wishing I could transfer to your 

 pages a few rough drawings of various interesting objects I may have to mention. 



Our spring commences about August, and the country is then one vast 

 swamp from the heavy winter rains, and here it is we meet with some of 

 the most beautiful of our native flowers. The ground is literally covered 

 with various species of Drosera, (Sundew;) D. Whittakerii, (Planchen,) with 

 radical, rosulate leaves (which impart a reddish dye to paper when pressed) 

 and large white flowers. D. FlancJionii, (J. Hooker,) figured in Hooker's 

 "leones plantarum," as D. Mevziesii, from specimens found at Swan Foot, 

 on the East coast of Van Diemen's Land; easily distinguished from other 

 species by its long, slender, prostrate peduncles, and three leaves springing 

 on slight petioles from one point of the stem; and D. peltata, (Smith,) also 

 figured in the same work. Vol. i.. Tab, 54, as D. lunata; from specimens 

 sent from Van Diemen's Land, by Mr. Gunn. Leaves, alternate, those of 

 the stem, peltate; radical ones, reniform, cordate. Flowers pink in terminal 

 racemes. The exquisite little Star of Bethlehem, (Anguillaria dioica,) its 

 ■white flowers circled on the interior with a band of brown, grows everywhere, 

 in company with the yellow Hypoxis vayinata, and Bulhine lulhosa. The 

 Lagoons in some places are mantled with the small flowers and floating leaves 

 of Ranunculus inundatus, (Water Crowfoot;) and in others the Azolla rubra, 

 (Marsileaceae,) clothes their surface as with velvet. In moist situations at 

 this season may be observed several Musci, as Ifi/pnum recognitum, (Hedwig;) 

 Dryptodon Africanus, (ferd. Mueller;) Funaria hygrometriea, (Hedwig.) A 

 species of Fimhriaria; Dicranum purpureum, (Hedwig;) and the handsome 

 lichen Cetraria aculeata, (Fries.) 



A few weeks later and the Orchidew spring up; and I may particularly 

 mention Diuris maculata; D. sulphurea; D. aurea; Caladenia carnea; C. 

 ccerulea; C. alata; C. pulcherrima ; Pterostylis ciicullcda, (Hooded Orchis;) 

 and Glossodia minor. Of the Asphodelece, Ccesia coryrnhosa, with blue flowers 

 and yellow anthers, is indeed a bright star. 



The various species of Acacia are now splendidly in flower on the Yarra 

 banks, emitting a most grateful perfume to the passer by. A great number 

 of Acacias, and particularly, I think, A. moUissima, were completely denuded 

 of their leaves this spring, by a small caterpillar, of a species of Tenthredo; 

 and at the present time their bark is covered with a Coccus. 



