NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 193 



Mr. Maiden exhibited and explained a very fine series of 

 enlarged photographs taken by his assistant, Mr. W. Forsyth, 

 especially to illustrate some of the characteristic botanical features 

 of the Mt. Kosciusko Plateau, such as the gregarious habit of 

 plants like Aciphylla glacialis, Richea Giinnii, Celmisia longifoliai 

 and Astelia aljnna; the dwarfed habit of shrubs growing in the 

 open, exemplified by Oxylohiwrn ellipticum, var. alpinum, Erios- 

 temon ovatifolius, and Grevillea australis, var. alpina: the cling- 

 ing and scrambling habit of shrubs which best withstand the 

 wind in the shelter afforded by granite boulders, of which Podo- 

 carpus alpina^ Orites lancifolia, Drimys aromatica, and some of 

 the Epacrids furnish examples ; the pasturage afforded by the 

 conspicuous grass Danthonia 7'obusta; and the Snow Gums 

 (Eucalyptus coriacea) at the tree-line. 



M r. Fletcher exhibited a series of specimens illustrative of, and 

 offered some remarks on, the fauna of the higher portion of the 

 Mt. Koscuisko Plateau (above the tree-line, approximately about 

 6000 feet), supplementing Mr. R. Helms' general account of the 

 fauna met with from 3000 feet upwards. At the higher elevation 

 the fauna does not compare with the flora in respect of the 

 variety, or the novel or otherwise striking character of the forms 

 which come under notice. The animals are chiefly either summer 

 immigrants, or they are such as are able to hibernate under a 

 covering of snow for a period of five months or longer of each 

 year. Of vertebrates actually met with or reported by Mr. Helms 

 there seem to be known but 15 species: mammals (including the 

 hare, and a rat at the Observatory) 4 species; Birds 4; Lizards 2; 

 Snakes 2 ; Batrachia 2, and Pisces 1. Of these the fish 

 {Galaxias Jindlayi, Macl.) is the only species not found elsewhere. 

 The two frogs {Grinia signifera, Giard, and Hyla ewinyii, T>. & B. 

 var.nov.) occur in company near water up to fully 7000 feet. 

 The Hyla is remarkable by its acquisition of a rich green in 

 place of the usual shade of brown as the groundcolour of the 

 exposed upper surfaces of the body and limbs, and the darker 

 tint and more strongly marked character of the dorsal stripes and 

 the inguinal and other spots and blotches. The explanation of 

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