BY F. E. HAVrLAND. 509 



a poor representation; the ferns, for instance, being represented 

 by only four species. Tt may be accounted for by the fact tliat 

 the nieteofological nature of these parts is decidedly droughty, 

 tlie rainfall l)t'ing only 14 inches pei- j'ear, the temperature high, 

 and tlie atmosphere ihy; indeed, it is with great difficulty that, in 

 pri\ate gardens, any of these plants can be reared. 



Included in the following list are certain naturalised plants 

 which having been so long established, are regarded as "at 

 home" here; but these I have marked with an asterisk(*). 



As a help to local identification, I have inserted the vernacular 

 names against such plants as are so known here; but they can 

 form only a rough guide, as vernacular names differ \ ery often 

 even in the same district. The " Pin-Bush " of Cobar itself is 

 Acacia cu/Ietiuidrs, but in the more distaiit parts of the district 

 it is the Hakca vlttafa; wliile again the " Kurrajong " of these 

 parts is the Sterculla diversij'o/ia, but of the northern rivers it is 

 the Commersonia echinafa, or, indeed, any tree from which the 

 Natives used to sti-ip shreads for binding purposes. 



The mention of the months after each species, is intended to 

 indicate the time when that species is in full bloom. 



There is one want in the "far west," the existence of a Public 

 Museutu or Herbarium, located at such a centre as this. There 

 can be no mt)re pleasurable pursuit for the residents than to have 

 characteristic specimens of the natural history of their district 

 brought within easy reach and observation. In such a locality 

 as this, there is material for a useful Institution for the preserva- 

 tion of specimens in most departments of Natui-al History. 

 Indeed, such could be maintained at little expense to the State, 

 there being always several scientific men connected with the 

 development ef the local mines, who, for the recreation to be got 

 out of it, would undertake to collect, and to classify specimens; 

 while the whole affair could be placed under the care of honorary 

 trustees. This is the only way I can see of educating the resi- 

 dents to a knowledge of the wealth of their natural surroundings. 



In writing the notes on the various species, I have consulted, 

 and, in a few cases, borrowed from leading authorities. 



