264 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF^THE 



tree fifteen feet high, bearing ripe fruit, Casalpinea sp., Me- 

 trosideros sp.^ Hibiscus sp., and Acacia stigmatophylla. Gre- 

 villea mimosoides very generally bore its viscid green fruit ; 

 and some specimens that were sixteen feet high, still had old 

 tlower-spikes. In returning along the rocky eastern shore of 

 our little bay, I remarked the picturesque Pandanus peduncu- 

 latus, heavily laden with ripe fruit, of which I gathered an 

 ample supply. This genus is not confined to intertropical 

 climates. I have heard of its existence a few miles north of 

 the Coal (Hunter's) River, near Port Stephens, whence some 

 fruit had been brought to Port Jackson, which was shown 

 me, and I have seen the plant at Port Macquarie in lat. 31°, 

 and about 28° to the eastward of this part of the coast. This 

 plant, therefore, has a wide diffusion through all parallels and 

 meridians between these given points; it is most probably, how- 

 ever, confined (as I suspect the locality of Araucaria* excelsa 

 is) to the sea-coast. Among the brushes, chiefly of Capparis 

 sepiaria ? I found a reclining slender shrub without fructifica- 

 tion, which I suspect, from its peculiar habit, and apparent 

 axillary umbellate inflorescence, to be another species of 

 Capparis. I saw no ira.ces of natives of recent appearance, 

 either on the hills or on the western shores of the bay. I" 

 my return I secured a curious Lizard,\ of extraordinary ap- 

 pearance, which had perched itself on the stem of a decayed 

 tree. Four kinds of Snakes have been observed on the shqres 

 of the bay; and although this period (September), may be 

 considered little other than the commencement of spring or 

 close of winter, we are remarking new insects and reptiles, 

 creeping out of their dormitories daily. It may, however, be 

 inferred, that were we to visit this part of the coast during 

 the summer months, (December to May,) a great variety of 



* Araucaria Cunninghamia. Mr Cunningham at this time was not aware 

 of the specific difiference of the Norfolk Island tree, and the one seen on 

 the eastern shores of New Holland. 



t Chlamydosatirus Kingii, Gray.— King's Survey of the Coast of Aus- 

 tralia, Vol. ii. App. B. Reptilia, p. 424. 



