1839.] BOTANY. 235 



The fruits, too, are singular, as well in form as in their attri- 

 butes ; and what are simple shrubs in other climes, attain a 

 wondrous growth ; while the monarchy of the wood are Ti- 

 tans in stature, and of gigantic girth. But, what is stranger 

 still, all the trees, with a single exception, possess one of the 

 gifts of perpetual youth, and rejoice in a foliage that never 

 fades or perishes, but is always green. 



Botany Bay, it will be remembered, received its name from 

 the abundant vegetation discovered on its shores, by Captain 

 Cook and Sir Joseph Banks. After their return, and the pub- 

 lication of their animated descriptions of the floral beauties 

 they had witnessed, general attention was instantly attracted 

 to the country, and the most extravagant expectations were 

 formed in regard to its productiveness. Those who subse- 

 quently visited it, for purposes of colonization, and from sci- 

 entific motives, saw much to charm and interest ; but a care- 

 ful examination disclosed comparatively little of what was 

 really useful and beneficial. The copses of palm, the jungle 

 patches and mangrove thickets, of tropical Australia, and the 

 wide reaches of scrub along the southern coast, a lfbrded a pic- 

 turesque and pleasing contrast to the dark waves of magni- 

 ficent vegetation creeping up the sides of the Blue Mountains 

 and the Warragongs, and mingling their rich emerald dyes 

 with the brilliant azure of the o'erarching heavens ; yet some- 

 thing more than mere beauty of scenery was requisite, as was 

 well remarked by Governor Phillip, in his account of the first 

 attempt at colonization, "in a place where the permanent 

 residence of multitudes was to be established." 



There is a remarkable peculiarity in the arrangement of 

 the primary orders of plants in Australia. Of the crypto- 

 gamia, there are about seven hundred species, less than one- 

 third of which are common to this and other countries. 

 There are nearly twelve hundred monocotyledons, only fort)'' 

 of which are found in other regions ; and out of almost four 

 thousand different species of dicotyledonous plants, there are 

 but twenty which are not peculiar to Australia. It will 

 thus be seen, that Australia contains, as peculiar to herself, 



