BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 345 
. grove of this Xanthorrhea, called here Blackboys, but which 
_ how get scarce in the neighbourhood of the settlements from 
_ the numbers used as firewood. The Genus is of very slow 
. growth, the largest specimens must be several hundred years 
- old; these furnish the natives with a favourite article of food 
 inthe larve of a large brown species of Cerambyz, and also 
 afforda good substitute for lucifer-matches. When the indige- 
. hous tribes happen to be without fire in the bush, they select 
an old but sound flower-stalk of Xanthorrhea, with the dry 
flowers and. seed-vessels remaining: of these they make a 
Small heap on the ground; then break off about a foot 
r eighteen inches of the upper part of the flower-stalk, 
2 and split the remaining part in the middle, placing one half 
: ‘With the split side up, over the little heap of withered flowers; 
this done, they apply the small end of the broken off part to the 
middle of the split portion holding it upright between the 
Palms of their hands and rolling it backwards and forwards 
With rapidity. Thus a small hollow is soon formed in the 
- Split stalk like the half of a bullet-caster, when they make a 
Small orifice on one side for the fire to escape into the dried- 
- flowers, where it spreads as in tinder, the whole process not 
Occupying three minutes even in wet weather. In very wet 
Weather, they are, however, sometimes obliged to substitute 
the pounded leaves of the blackboy, which are always found dry 
Under large plants, instead of the old flowers. Itis a curious 
Tact, that these two most striking Genera on the mainland 
are both wanting on Garden Island. P. Dnne 
> The secondary limestone formation on the right bank of 
the Swan river, terminates at Mount Eliza near Perth; it - 
appears again on the left bank opposite the Peninsula Farm, 
4nd continues in a narrow ridge, with few interruptions, to 
Guildford. Concretions of shells with square valves occur 
"der the limestone at Redcliff, and at Preston Point and 
other places, and petrified shells nearly resembling those that - 
are found recent. The Nuytsia,* the most magnificent of outs 
x floribunda, (R. Br.) and of Lindley, Swan River Botany, p.39. 00 
ned. IL No. 15. fr 
